For those who argue central Jersey doesn’t exist, I can confidently assure you that it does, as it comes with a plethora of eccentricities that only “Central Jerseyians” would understand. If you're a teenage girl from Central New Jersey, I can guarantee that you’ll relate to these ten eclectic activities.
1. Trying to make it to every PNC Bank Arts Center concert.
Whether it’s Wiz Khalifa or Luke Bryan, if you're a girl from central Jersey, there is a sizable chance that you’ll be attending one or more of PNC Bank Arts Center’s summer series concerts. In fact, there's an even better chance you’ll make your Instagram caption from that night a lyric from one of the performer's songs.
2. Taking a picture in front of the doors at Porta in Asbury Park.
You might just be getting a slice of Nutella pizza, or you might not be eating at all, but there is a good chance that if you're a girl from Central Jersey, you’ve taken a picture in front of Pizza Porta's infamous doors. Likewise, if you haven’t, you most likely have seen someone take one, or know someone who has.
3. Abandoning Dunkin' Donuts coffee for Rook coffee.
With the debut of the first Rook in 2010, numberless die-hard Dunkin' Donuts coffee drinkers have made a life-changing switch. If you're a coffee drinking girl from central Jersey, there’s a good chance you've made the switch from Dunkin' Donuts to Rook. Moreover, there's a substantial chance that you have your white Rook penguin sticker stuck on one of your belongings, and that your Snapchat story is familiar with your favorite brew.
4. Not just eating your playa bowl, but showing it to the world.
Having locations in Pier Village, Belmar, and New Brunswick, you're bound to have had a playa bowl or to have been exposed to the playa bowl craze. The one thing a girl from central Jersey would know about playa bowls is that it’s rare to get one without sharing it with the world. Whether it's Instagram, Snapchat, or Facebook you’ve seen, or you’ve posted a picture of a playa bowl. My personal favorite? The Nutella Bowl, of course.
5. Going to 16th Avenue Belmar on beach days in high school.
Although you might not have attended sixteenth avenue Belmar lately since its introduction of gravel-like sand, there is a good chance that throughout high school, you found yourself familiar with the beach on 16th Avenue. Equally, those central Jersey girls who have been there know exactly what to expect: shirtless boys with backpacks, slides and socks, and Oakley sunglasses.
6. Basically making your 16th birthday equivalent to a sacrament.
Whether you had a huge bash, went to a nice dinner, or went on a vacation, if you're a girl from central Jersey, it's likely that your 16th birthday was celebrated more greatly than your other birthdays. Why? Alarmingly, Sweet Sixteens are a culture in central Jersey. Do you think that other areas have as many sweet sixteens? Ask friends from other states about sixteenth birthdays in their area and your likely to get a midsize answer.
7. Giving pork roll, egg, and cheese its own food group.
If you’re hungry or hungover, there is always a cure: pork roll, egg and cheese. One thing girls from central Jersey know is that pork roll, egg and cheese is unavoidable in their area. From the diner, to Wawa, to the counter at your local gas station, there is a sweeping chance you’ll always be able to munch on pork roll, egg and cheese.
8. Going to Wildwood or Seaside after prom.
If you attended after prom, there is a prodigious chance that you went down the shore for your after prom experience. Likewise, there is a sizable chance that your weekend consisted of drunkenly scaling the board walk in custom made teeshirts, wasting your money on boardwalk games, getting henna tattoos, and eating funnel cake for every meal.
9. Knowing that tanning is a religion.
Summer, fall, spring or winter: no matter the season, you or those around you are most likely to be tan. With more than a few tanning salons in every central Jersey town, central Jersey girls know that tanning is a religion for many (and most likely even themselves).
10. Snacking late night at Wawa.
One of the greatest perks of living in Central Jersey? The ability to late night snack at Wawa. Whether you're taking advantage of hoagie fest or you're just craving a glazed donut, Wawa is always the place to be.