About Us / Welcome

Welcome to the Study Hall Gang, the fastest growing social club in Essex County, New Jersey!

The overriding goal of the Study Hall Gang is to advance face-to-face interpersonal relationships (over electronic interactions via smartphone or computer), plan inexpensive and interesting outings and events, and most of all, have fun.  (Okay, alcohol is usually involved.) 

The backbone of the SHG is the "Regular Friday Night Gig," a weekly gathering at a “home” bar.  We meet at Fitzgerald's 1928, a family restaurant and bar in Glen Ridge, New Jersey every Friday at 9:30 pm, without exception.  Come as often as you like or as seldom as you like, but you must come at least once to join.  We do not admit Members who apply electronically because to do so would defeat the underlying purpose of the group!      

As a Member you’ll have immediate access to our Facebook page and you’ll be invited to every Special Event we plan, usually two or three per month (in addition to our Regular Friday Night Gigs).  Our Special Events are originated and executed by a special Events Committee, and are designed to appeal to a broad cross-section of interests. Our past Events include wine and beer tastings, chili cook-offs, as well as a comedy night, a creative writing workshop, a pop art history seminar, and a cheese tasting.  We hold large dance parties on New Year's Eve, the End of Summer, and Halloween, plus a series of Karaoke events.  We’ve always got a few upcoming events listed on our Events Calendar, and more than a few in the works.  

The Study Hall Gang presently has about 180 members, and they're a special bunch; in fact, we're more like family than social acquaintances.  Our members are Black, White, Asian, Latino, Straight, Gay, Married and Single.  Our youngest Member is 25, our eldest is 80. We hail from the Montclair area, but not Montclair exclusively.  In fact, we have Members from Bloomfield, Verona, Glen Ridge, Clifton, Newark, Wayne, and parts of New York State.  To read about the group in the words of the members themselves, click here.

The Study Hall Gang is managed by a dedicated group of volunteers.  Click here to learn more about our Management team.

To see how the Study Hall Gang started, click here.

Take a look around our site, and when you're ready, come out to Fitzgerald's on a Friday night, introduce yourself, and have a drink.  If you like us, you’re in.  It's that simple!