There’s a buzz for the FIFA World Cup in Morristown. One of the tournament favorites, Brazil, is training in nearby Morris Township.
“Soccer is my passion. I love it," said resident Kian Zapata. "This is my town. To see my town excited for all this - something that I’ve been excited for my whole life - is a dream come true.”
Zapata hasn’t let any of the online negativity around hosting the World Cup - the ticket cost, the transportation concerns, the constant political chirping - bring him down.
“It’s a melting pot," Zapata said. "And we’re in the northeast, so that’s what we embrace, that’s what we’re all about. It’s beautiful to see that that’s what this game is bringing.”
Some of those visitors, by way of Scotland, are quickly learning about how New Jersey eats and drinks.
“The food is a lot more than we thought," said Mark, of Glasgow. "That’s one of the big things. And, there’s a lot more sugar in things as well.”
Gov. Mikie Sherrill gave towns the option to extend their hours selling alcohol. In Morristown, they’ve opened sales on Sundays starting at 10 a.m. Over at Famished Frog, it is paired with brunch.
“It’s people just getting together, having a good time, forgetting about all the stuff that’s happening outside the world," said owner Jim Finnegan. "Let’s just concentrate on having some fun and looking at some sports.”