TESTIMONIALS

This is a town full of ambitious, busy, interesting and smart people. The problem today is that between work and family, between our lists and our laundry, how on earth are we able to find time away from our virtual world to meet our actual neighbors and make new friends?  New problems need new solutions. Five years ago, I was a busy producer, traveling for work and working on too many things. I found myself living in Montclair with very few locally-based friends. I was bored on Friday nights and didn’t feel connected to my neighbors and my immediate community. Then I saw a posting in Facebook that asked me to come out for a drink and meet my neighbors. I am delighted to say that the Study Hall Gang is everything it claims to be. We are a collection of all different types of people, who, through coming out to meet each other on Friday nights or at other events we hold, have bonded into a great local community. We are NOT virtual! We are REAL community, in-person friends! I am grateful to every single person I’ve met here. We laugh and have fun but we also listen and support each other when needed. I recently broke my leg and was blown away by the help and good wishes that were offered to me by friends in the group. I totally recommend coming out to meet us for a night. We look forward to meeting you!

~ Margo

Montclair was where my house was, and after spending several Friday evenings besides the occasional get-togethers with Study Hall Gang, Montclair became my home. The all-inclusive, welcoming energy of SHG made me comfortable during the times I spent with them and since so many lived in or close to Montclair, it helped me connect with the community partly because of the SHG members and mainly because it opened my eyes to the progressive, open-minded spirit of Montclair. I have cultivated beautiful friendships with SHG members who are from diverse backgrounds and lifestyles. The different get-togethers, whether it’s a summer picnic, international dinner, mardi gras party, or sci-fi film viewing etc. has made the SHG environment a fun place with a lot of variety where everyone is welcome to participate and enjoy with no discrimination! Thank you Study Hall Gang; you make the world a better place!

~ Priti

I am a single mom and have a disabled daughter. Due to this circumstance, it was exceedingly difficult to have a social life. In 2015, in one of the pages in Montclair I noticed Andrew Pincus inviting people to join him and his wife, Beth, for a drink. I thought it was a joke. I started to notice similar messages for three months. I finally decided to take a “risk” and join them. At this point in time, the group did not even have a name yet.  It was the best decision I made in my life. I found a family with them. Because of my decision to leave the realm of my home to meet Andrew and Beth I have found friends who are there for me when I need them and now I have a social life in which my own daughter has been included. SHG is an example of what this country should be. We have people from all walks: religion, economic status, gender, sexual preferences, age; none of it matters. We all love and respect each other. Everyone is welcome and no one is a stranger. The warmth of the members immediately makes you feel like you “belong.” There is no place like SHG.

~ Julia

I’ve been with the SHG for 3 years now. The phrase “Time flies when you’re having fun” certainly applies here. Between the Friday night get-togethers and the special events, your social calendar can be a full time job! I have met a number of different people from all different backgrounds. I may not go out every Friday night but it’s nice to know that I always have a place to go!

~ Donna

My husband and I and our two teenagers moved here in 2015. As the kids got older and did their own things, my husband and I found ourselves pretty bored. With no one around to celebrate with, we spent every holiday pretty much doing nothing, until 2019 when a friend of a friend mentioned the Study Hall Gang. The very first night we went to Fitzgerald's, the restaurant/bar in Glen Ridge where the "gang" meets every Friday, everyone was very inviting and so nice that we decided to continue going on Fridays. After three weeks, we went to the “End of the summer” party, which was an absolute blast. Great food, great company, and great dance music. We have continued to go to every party the group has hosted for the last year and I can honestly say we have always have a great time. Seriously, just because you're a little bit older doesn't mean you don't want to have fun anymore and this group is FUN! My husband and I both have really enjoyed meeting people and getting a little crazy once in a while. As for the two creators of this group, they are awesome, completely dedicated to the group and a really friendly couple. We really love the group and I can't say enough good things about it. We are so fortunate to have found it so close to home and if we find ourselves bored we know we just have to wait until the next Friday night we can see a big group of friendly people.

~ Elizabeth