September 2026: New Jersey Is No Joke

Whether you've called this state home for six months, six years or six decades, you've heard your share of jokes about it—and undoubtedly told some, too. So in this September's issue, we're making a declaration, one that every New Jerseyan can understand and appreciate: After years of being a punchline, we think it's time to prove that New Jersey isn't a joke.

We take on those all-too-familiar stereotypes ("Jersey stinks." "It's one giant mall." "It's the armpit of America.") and shut them down for good, with a little help from some of Jersey's funniest comic minds—like Judy Gold, Retta and Kevin Smith. Even Newark Airport—the butt of many a joke—gets in on the fun, penning a column for us (with an assist from writer Adam Peltzman). 

Also this month: An interview with music legend and lifelong New Jerseyan Dionne Warwick as she releases her final album ... a sit-down with bestselling author Harlan Coben on his new memoir and life in the Garden State ... and a look at the tiny forests movement. On a somber note, we mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11 with some truly moving stories.