Five Things to Do This Week

Fundraisers, Second Saturday: 5 Things for This Week

Plus: the last commissioners meeting before the 2013 elections, a community concert and church yard sale.

Monday, May 6 at 7 p.m.—Collingswood Community Center The last monthly meeting of the local borough government before the May 14 elections. Those in attendance can likely expect some discussion on the introduction of the borough budget, which Mayor James Maley announced last week would likely be delayed because of a shift in employee healthcare plans. Bring your questions and your neighbors. Tuesday, May 7, 4 to 10 p.m.—Tortilla Press and Tortilla Press Cantina Dine out at either of Mark Smith's Tortilla Press locations on the first Tuesday of every month and 15 percent of your bill will go to benefit the Collingswood Holiday Parade. Tuesday, May 7, at 7:28 p.m.—Scottish Rite Auditorium "Selections explore various types of human …

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Crisis in Camden: Children's Garden Matters to Collingswood, Too

According to an edict from the state of New Jersey, the facility has until March 31 to vacate a significant portion of its land. Borough residents are doing what they can to help.

Until the Ravitz family of Cherry Hill announced plans this week to open a new ShopRite supermarket in the city—and until it’s constructed—Camden City has had only one grocery store to serve its 80,000 residents since the 1980s. Mark Smith, chef-owner of The Tortilla Press, says that's a far cry from conditions in his hometown of Norwalk, OH, where the residents only outnumber the supermarkets 15,000 to 5. “[Camden is] classified as a food desert, and the public has to get their fresh produce from the little corner stores,” Smith said. “There’s a necessity in Camden for any type of fresh food.” For years, one institution that helped families meet those needs in the poorest and most dangerous city in the nation has been the Camden Children'…

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Fr. Jud Weiksnar

10:38 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013

Just so you know, I support the Children's Garden too. But the name of the store Future Old Angry Italian Guy refers to is Aldi, not Aldi's. Saying Aldi's is like saying Shoprite's or Walmart's.   more ›

The Collingswood Foodies

Collingswood Spring Restaurant Week: Menus and Specials

Who's participating in the multi-course prix fixe week? We've got the list here.

Collingswood Restaurant Week starts Sunday, and what a great week for “foodaholics” like us. Not only are we fans of the food itself, but also the creativity and culture it brings to town.  For the unfamiliar, Collingswood Restaurant Week models itself after Philadelphia’s Center City version, where participating fooderies create multi-course, prix fixe menus ranging from $25-35 per person. Restaurant week is a celebration of food: an opportunity for chefs to flaunt their culinary creativity, and diners to experience something special. Although food options may sometimes include items from a restaurant’s regular menu, oftentimes chefs choose to have fun and create limited and exclusive dishes. For example, Ecuadorian grill El Sitio’s …

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The Collingswood Foodies

Pressed for Brunch Options? Try The Tortilla Press

From a $6 Early Bird brunch to cinnamon-sugar chips with yogurt dip, the Haddon Ave. staple is for lots more than just dinner.

What could be better than getting up early on a Sunday morning and treating yourself to a hot breakfast at a local restaurant? That’s easy: sleeping in and treating yourself to a delicious brunch at a local restaurant! Although we’re new parents and haven’t “slept in” for three months, we fondly remember when such lazy days were possible. In the spirit of reminiscence, we recently decided to bring the baby to brunch at local favorite, The Tortilla Press. On the whole, Collingswood doesn’t have as many morning-meal options as we would like. There is, of course, the perennial powerhouse of The Pop Shop, which serves breakfast daily (and all day, in fact!), but only a handful of other spots that offer weekend brunch for a range of discerning …

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Collingswood Restaurants Share Super Bowl Snack Recipes

We asked the kitchens on Restaurant Row to kick over some ideas of what to make for the big game. Here's some of their favorites.

What are you making for your guests for the big game? If you're up in the air—or haven't yet joined the crush of humanity at Wegman's—we can help you add a few more things to that shopping list. We put out an A.P.B. to Collingswood restaurants to get some ideas for make-at-home snacks, and they came back with some winners. Thanks to all who contributed—and if you have any good recipes of your own, tell us in the comments! Buffalo Chicken Hot Pot from The Pop Shop This recipe comes straight from the personal cookbook of Connie and Bill "Stink" Fisher at The Pop Shop, and calls for Frank's hot sauce. Honey Cholula Wings with Guacamole Ranch Dressing from The Tortilla Press (makes 24 wings) Chef Mark Smith offered up this refreshing take on …

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Tickets Available for Michelle Johnson Benefit Sunday

The beef-and-beer fundraiser will be held Sunday at the Oaklyn Fire Hall from 4 to 8 p.m. Tickets are $30, and RSVPs are needed today.

The murder of long-time Tortilla Press employee Michelle Johnson has not been easy for her friends and coworkers to come to grips with. Making things even more difficult to take are the looming costs of her funeral, a portion of which remains to be paid. But Johnson's friends are as resilient and resourceful as they remember her being, and despite the impact of their loss, they are throwing their girl one more party. A beef-and-beer benefit for Johnson will be held this Sunday, Aug. 19, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Oaklyn Fire Hall. Money raised from the benefit will go to help offset the remaining costs of Johnson's funeral. Anything beyond that will be contributed to the Michelle A. Johnson Foundation, which was begun by the friends that …

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Michelle Johnson Viewing Tonight in Haddonfield

Those wishing to pay their respects to the late Tortilla Press server may do so at Kain-Murphy Funeral Services from 6 to 8 p.m. Her funeral is Thursday.

As those close with Michelle Johnson make preparations to lay her to rest this week, there is still a gloom that hangs over the brightly colored Mexican restaurant where the young woman had worked for so many years. "She was always smiling, laughing, cracking a joke," said Tortilla Press server Brendan Dugan. Dugan said he still half-expects to see Johnson's name on the schedule when he checks his hours. "It’s just really, really messed up," he said. The 21-year-old Tortilla Press server was murdered last week by her boyfriend, Coast Guardsman Paul Aldapa, 22, of Vacaville, CA, who then shot himself. Like Dugan, Tortilla Press owner Mark Smith said he's still "really upset and disturbed and sorry" when he thinks about the loss of his young…

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Murder Victim Michelle Johnson Was a Sunny, Sweet Presence at Tortilla Press

Staff at the Collingswood restaurant were shocked to learn about the young woman's death in an apparent murder-suicide in Philadelphia Wednesday afternoon.

Friends of Collingswood resident Michelle Johnson were stunned today to learn that the sunny, upbeat and hard-working young woman had been found dead Wednesday in Philadelphia, the victim of an apparent murder-suicide. Staff at the Tortilla Press today confirmed that the 21-year-old, known as "Shelley," was a long-time member of the restaurant family, having worked her way up from hostess/buser to server. Owner Mark Smith was too shaken to say much after hearing the news. Johnson had worked for him “for years,” he said. “I don’t know how I’m going to tell the staff,” Smith said. Restaurant manager Evan Weissman said Johnson was “a fun girl, a sweet girl and very bright.” One server at the restaurant, who did not wish to be identified by …

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Addie MacDonald

8:32 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Well he did "do something like this" monstrous, aggressive, angry, SELFISH act. Sounds like an aggressive, angry monster to me.   more ›

Treat Dad to Something Special This Father's Day

Our food columnist gathered up all of the Father's Day dining specials in Collingswood and Haddonfield.

Father’s Day is this Sunday, and it would be an injustice for this column to acknowledge Mom while ignoring Dad. As with Mother’s Day, I’ve gathered for you a convenient guide to restaurant specials in Collingswood and Haddonfield that celebrate Father’s Day. Without further ado, I give you Father’s Day 2012: Blackbird Café Father’s Day Brunch 10:30 a.m.—2:00 p.m. Brunch menu includes appetizers, entrées and sides. Casona Father’s Day Dinner includes a special filet mignon with mini crab cake, potato cake, and asparagus in a thyme reduction. IndeBlue Father’s Day Brunch 11:30 a.m. — 3:00 p.m. Brunch menu includes mako and Cornish hen. Dad also receives a complimentary Indian beer for being awesome. Nunzio’s Regular a la carte menu, plus …

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Jubili Beads Teams up with Tortilla Press for a Good Cause

Those who have dinner at The Tortilla Press Dec. 12 will help support Jubilation Creations, an organization supporting the arts for disabled individuals.

Jubilation Creations, an organization operated by Haddon Avenue shop Jubili Beads & Yarns, has teamed up with local restaurant The Tortilla Press to support arts initiatives for special needs individuals. On Monday, Dec. 12, those who dine at The Tortilla Press from 4 to 9 p.m. will have a percentage of their bill donated to Jubilation Creations initiatives. Jubilation Creations is a nonprofit organization headed by Jubili Beads & Yarns Owner Dr. Judith K. Weinstein, 58, of Mount Laurel. Weinstein created the outreach to afford disabled individuals the opportunity to experience healing through the arts—something she knows about personally. After practicing invasive-procedure radiology for 10 years, the heavy doctor's equipment Weinstein …

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