Shopping malls are plentiful in just about every state of the country. But in New Jersey, there’s a certain store that seems to be in just about every one – a massage parlor. Not, the illicit, happy-ending, adult ones – but the “my back’s sore from shopping can you rub it for a couple of bucks” ones. Each time I visit Atlantic City, I try to stop by Ping’s Place on the Boardwalk. The family run shop has been in business for a long time. While the Boardwalk is loaded with massage places, I tried Ping’s on my first trip to AC a decade ago, and now I stop by as a treat. For about a dollar a minute, they will massage your back, legs, neck, arms, and hands. You tell them how long you want to go, but I usually opt for the 20 minute session. They don’t use any crazy oils and you don’t have to get naked. I usually just lay down in a t-shirt as they play soft tranquil music and rub your cares away. Not only are these parlors plentiful on the Atlantic City Boardwalk, but also on other New Jersey shore town boardwalks and in their malls! The Shore Mall, in Egg Harbor Township, NJ, is currently undergoing a large de-malling construction project. The mall was once home to several of these mom and pop massage parlors, but as a wing of the mall is being demolished, they’ve simply moved to the nearby Hamilton Mall. I’ve shopped at the Newport Center Mall in Jersey City for years and have always noticed the set of eight massage chairs in the main mall walkway surrounding a kiosk. There’s no store to walk in here – you’re right out in the middle of the mall,...

Fiercely Anticipating: A new book by Sara Zarr A new book by J.F. Freedman (can you tell me how “Against the Wind” was never made into a movie?) A new book by Tatjana Soli (Is the “Lotus Eaters” going to be a movie? Please say yes.) More hilarious picture books by Anthony Browne Kinda Wanna — Play Hooky Instead of staring at the computer screen, I’d love to: Go out to high tea Go on a shopping spree at Sephora Go to the nearest Christian Louboutin and try on shoes with four inch heels and pretend I can walk in them Go to Central Park and spend the afternoon on the swings Get a four hour massage Go home and find a message from a top editor: We LOVE your new manuscript! Wouldn’t Write About the following, if you paid me: Developing amnesia – so damn overdone Reality TV vampires Kim Kardashian George and Laura The first dog Golf Hot tubs Plastic surgery Locavores Slaughtering your own….you fill in the blank. Blood sausages Bangers and Mash If you liked this post, please do us the further boon of Liking the Fierce and Nerdy page on FaceBook. Also, we’re giving great stream on Twitter, so do give us...