We sit down with Montclair photographer Armando "Out There" Diaz to discuss his recent proclamation award from Mayor Renee Baskerville and his journey as a community documentarian. Through his powerful photography, Armando captures the essence of Montclair's Fourth Ward and diverse communities that are often overlooked.

• Armando shares how photography became his path back to social connection after struggling with mental health issues and isolation
• Using his camera to observe and gradually reconnect with his community
• Transitioning from graphic design and music production to photography
• Creating art exhibits that intentionally bring together diverse people and energies
• Focusing on documenting musicians, community events, and everyday life in Montclair

Visit Armando's current photography exhibit, which is running until the end of the month!

Armando "Out There" Diaz Instagram

Photo Gallery

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From the shadowy Pine Barrens to the stages of New Jersey's most atmospheric venues, "The Devil and Daisy Dirt" brings cryptid folklore to life through an extraordinary blend of puppetry, murder ballads, and feminist storytelling. Our fascinating conversation with creators Alex Dawson and Dan Diana reveals the magical collision of their creative worlds.

Despite growing up a thousand miles and a decade apart, both men were shaped by similar influences – creature features like The Dark Crystal, wooded landscapes that fired their imaginations, and a deep connection to folklore. Alex, now a Rutgers University creative writing professor, brings literary depth and musical sensibility informed by his Southern upbringing, while Dan contributes Hollywood-level creature design expertise honed through work on productions ranging from Marvel blockbusters to indie horror films.

Their theatrical creation doesn't merely rehash the familiar Jersey Devil legend, but transforms it into something more nuanced. The massive 8-foot devil puppet (surprisingly small compared to their 13-foot outdoor creations) serves as a backdrop for exploring deeper themes about humanity, nature conservation, and dismantling patriarchal systems. Most powerfully, their protagonist Daisy's musical moment of resistance consistently draws cheers from women in the audience.

Ready to experience "History with bite"? Follow the links in our show notes to catch this selling-out production before it vanishes into the Pine Barrens mist. Have you encountered any Jersey folklore worth sharing? Let us know in the comments!

🐐 Jersey Devil, reimagined — folklore meets punk puppetry

💪 Feminist tall tale — Daisy Dirt flips the damsel trope

🎻 Live bluegrass score — haunting, foot-stomping Americana

🎭 Gothic vaudeville vibes — think Labyrinth meets Johnny Cash

🐾 8-ft creature suit — part monster, part misunderstood legend

🌲 Deep NJ roots — Pine Barrens myth told by locals, for locals

🕯️ Folklore meets horror — poetic, dark, and weird in the best way

🎤 Critically acclaimed — praised by Weird NJ, WNYC, Joyce Carol Oates

🎒 Professor-led storytelling — Rutgers meets backwoods gothic

🎭 Upcoming Performances in New Jersey

Links:

Tickets to The Devil and Daisy Dirt

Lucille's Luncheonette

Pinelands Preservation Alliance

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Neal Lipschutz, former deputy editor-in-chief of the Wall Street Journal and standards editor, discusses his transition to fiction writing with his debut novel, "No Write Way to Die," exploring characters from Brooklyn who take different life paths before their worlds collide.

• Neal shares his journey from Brooklyn to New Jersey and his 40-year career in journalism
• As WSJ's standards and ethics editor, he ensured content was fact-based and properly contextualized
• His debut novel is a suspenseful, rollicking ride
• We learn how his character development explores how people's backgrounds and early life decisions continue to influence them
• The book examines provocative questions about parental sacrifice and ethical boundaries
• Neal's favorite thing about moving to New Jersey is the ease of getting any book he'd like to read through the Bergen County Cooperative Library System

No Write Way to Die by Neal Lipschutz is coming out in July 2025!

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