Name: Stu Zakim
Where do you live? Montclair, in the Hawthorne Towers
When did you move there? 2011, at the suggestion of my friend David Carr, the legendary NY Times Media reporter.
Where did you grow up? Wayne. Wayne Hills Class of ’74!
How do you make a living? I own a Public Relations firm, Bridge Strategic Communications, that specializes in Entertainment, Media and Cannabis clients. The firm’s name reflects the “bridge building” component of PR and also, Boston’s Zakim Bridge, named after my brother, a Civil Rights leader who built metaphoric bridges between disparate communities. My firm handled the communications outreach for the recent “NJ Cannabis Symposium” series. I am also the Associate Producer of a documentary, “That Way Madness Lies,” which is being screening at Montclair Film’s Cinema 505 screening room on July 19 and 20th. I am a proud voting member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences.
Coffee, tea or … ? Cabernet
What’s your idea of a perfect weekend day? Tennis in the morning at Brookdale Park, sitting at the pool at my apartment building, a few glasses of wine and some Cannabis and a BBQ with my neighbors and friends.
What’s your favorite local restaurant? De Novo’s
What’s on your nightstand? The current edition of “The Hollywood Reporter,” “Rolling Stone” and “Vanity Fair.”
What are you listening to? The new Dave Matthews album (seeing Dave at PNC), Leon Bridges “Good Thing” and any Bruce Springsteen or The Grateful Dead album.
What are your current indulgences? Doing Zumba at the Montclair Y and looking for single women to date.
What talent you would most like to have? Being able to carry a tune.
What’s the worst-kept (or best-kept!) secret about Montclair? The hype is all true.
What do you hope they say about you at your funeral? He was a man, sleight of height, but large in heart and loyal to his friends and family.