AROC-NJ

AROC-NJ Monthly Breakfast meeting, Jan. 11, 2026

RichardReina Drives, Events ,

The cold January air did nothing to dissuade twelve Alfisti from meeting up at The Bernards Café in Bernardsville, NJ, for the New Jersey Alfa Club’s monthly breakfast meeting, held on Sunday, January 11, 2026. It was especially nice to see three spouses join the ranks, so a hearty Ciao to Denise, Margaretanne, and Suzanne. You are always welcome to join us!

I’ve always enjoyed this particular eatery, and the food and drink did not disappoint. In addition to the typical breakfast fare, there are interesting specials on the menu, and several of us took advantage of those choices. Because of the Café’s table arrangements, we were seated in two groups of six, and while we chitchatted about our favorite marque, my table also had an interesting and enlightening conversation about our numerous Italian ancestors.

We had four Alfa Romeos parked outside, and all four were modern Giulias, each one in a different color. To my eye, the car’s styling which debuted in this market in 2017 has remained fresh. (I write this while we anxiously await the next generation Giulia, due perhaps as soon as later this year.) We parted company around 11 a.m., already looking forward to next month’s breakfast meet.

Steve’s
Bill’s
Al’s
Paul’s

 

Entire blog post content copyright © 2026 Richard A. Reina. Text and photos may not be copied or reproduced without express written permission.

NJ AROC breakfast meet, Feb. 16, 2025

RichardReina Events ,

The NJ Chapter of the Alfa Romeo Owner’s Club held its monthly breakfast on Sunday, February 16, 2025, with six Chapter members gathering at the Americana Diner in Shrewsbury, NJ. The lighter than usual turnout was not a surprise given the weather, which overnight had started as snow, then changed to sleet, freezing rain, and finally rain. Temperatures above freezing helped make the hour’s drive for your scribe palatable.

Also palatable was the food, which was excellent as we’ve come to expect from this diner. Conversation ranged from winter projects on stored Alfas to the upcoming Amelia Island show and the annual National AROC Convention in Chicago.

Four of the six of us motored in Alfas, and we decorated the Americana parking lot with a Giulia, two Stelvios, and the oldest Alfa out today, a 164 sedan. Here’s hoping for an early spring so that our March breakfast might include a larger number of Milan’s finest.

L to R: Lee, Richard, Vic, Paul, Alfred, Frank

 

Entire blog post content copyright © 2025 Richard A. Reina. Text and photos may not be copied or reproduced without express written permission.

 

NJ Alfa Club Breakfast Meet, July 21, 2024

RichardReina Drives, Events , ,

Make that seven in a row! The New Jersey Chapter of the Alfa Romeo Owners Club (AROC-NJ) held its 7th consecutive breakfast meet on Sunday, July 21, 2024, returning to the charming Bernards Café in charming downtown Bernardsville, NJ. Eleven Chapter members made it to breakfast, arriving in a nice mix of older and newer Alfas. In addition to the two modern Giulias were a 164 sedan, your author’s GT Junior, and 5 Spiders.

We were at the Bernards Café for our Chapter breakfast in May, and we thought highly enough of the food and service to make a return visit. Street parking can be tight, so we parked in the NJ Transit parking lot, a 3-minute stroll. The lot is empty on Sundays, allowing us lots of room to park our Alfas, while also giving us a place to hang out and gab, both before and after the meal.

Chapter member Bill DiPrima, who’s been doing much of the event organizing for us this year, made arrangements for a country drive immediately after breakfast. About 5 drivers took him up on his offer. I needed to head home so I missed the tour this time. If there’s another opportunity later this year, I’ll do my best to join the caravan.

ADDENDA

From Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary:

addendum n, pl -da [L] : something added, esp a supplement to a book

This word, taken directly from the Latin (note the [L]), is neutral (neither masculine nor feminine) with its singular form ending in in -um and plural form ending in -a.  I’m using the plural form to name this new blog feature because I intend it to be a recurring item.

Our oldest granddaughter was at our house last month when we decided to visit the local pizzeria. And what did we spot as we left but this gorgeous Triumph TR-3. My granddaughter, who has not expressed any interest at all in Pop’s old cars, jumped out to take a closer look, and I snapped these pics to memorialize the event. Look at that smile!

Entire blog post content copyright © 2024 Richard A. Reina. Text and photos may not be copied or reproduced without express written permission.