South Jersey's Sober Party Girl

Sometimes the best meals aren't fancy. They're the ones filled with good friends, crispy fries, a sweet mocktail, and plenty of laughter. Thankfully, my cousin completely understands the assignment. When she invited me to Girl Dinner Night at Villa Rifici in Absecon, New Jersey , complete with Austen's Shelf Mobile Bookstore, my response was immediate: Uhm... SAY. LESS. I had never been to Villa Rifici before, but I've heard locals rave about the food and cozy atmosphere. Every time I've driven past, it looked like one of those hidden neighborhood restaurants that only the locals know about. Well... You can officially cross "hidden gem" off the list. Girl Dinner Was a Whole Event When I pulled into the parking lot, I was greeted by absolute chaos, in the best way possible. Cars filled every parking space and spilled onto the side streets. I finally found a spot closer to Dairy Queen and made the short walk over. Before heading inside, I stopped to admire ...

The memories I have at Absecon’s Hi Point Pub are some that I will cherish. I’m talking about the buffalo chicken wrap of my dreams (yes, I still think about it regularly) and the legendary 21st birthdays that always seemed to end with a Shirley Temple and a bacon, egg & cheese. The vibes? Chaotic. The memories? Iconic. But as the news headlines rolled in over the years, serious accidents, drunk drivers plowing into lawns, you could feel the era slipping away. So when the doors finally shut for good, my nostalgia kicked in HARD. (Had I known it was my last buffalo chicken wrap, I would have held my last one a little tighter.) Sure, their neighbors dish out some decent eats… but Hi Point had that “dark, dingy, lovable dive bar” energy that no one else could quite recreate. Enter: Reddog’s Hi Point Pub BUT!!! Plot twist! The pub was reborn thanks to new owners, a new look, and a new name: Reddog’s Hi Point Pub . The local paper even covered their grand opening. Family-friendly bra...

  As predicted, the snowstorm officially canceled our big, glamorous plans of parties, shows, five-star dining, and obviously walking out of the casino as millionaires. (A girl can dream, right?) Well we didn’t become millionaires, but we did find the perfect snow day vibe. After being snowed in for a few days, we needed to get out of the house. Not for an over-the-top hootenanny… just somewhere with good energy, good food, and zero pressure. Sometimes, like a wave, you just wanna catch a vibe. So we headed to Hangtime Bar and Grille on the White Horse Pike in Absecon for Happy Hour and DJ Bingo. And honestly? It was exactly what we needed. The Vibe When you walk into Hangtime, it almost feels like two different spots in one. On one side: the lively, loud bar area. On the other: a quieter restaurant space that’s perfect if you’re not feeling the chaos. Since it was Happy Hour, we grabbed seats at the bar. It wasn’t packed yet, but word on the street is that by 7 p.m., DJ Bingo b...