There are many more developments either under construction or in the planning stages. Aided by the presence of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, new apartments, and its proximity to the Newark's colleges and universities, including New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rutgers-Newark, downtown has seen a variety of restaurants and bars open their doors in the past several years. In addition to several high end restaurants catering to the theater crowd, downtown Newark is home to two Irish pubs, a SoHo style bistro, a gourmet soup restaurant, and an increasing number of other establishments. Most buses pass through Downtown and it is a principal shopping district of most Newark area residents. Washington Street Station, Penn Station, Military Park Station and all the stops on the Newark Light Rail serve the downtown area. Interstate 280 lies just north of Downtown, running parallel to New Jersey Transit rail operations. The Main Library is on Washington Park and served by the Newark Light Rail. See also Triangle Park (Newark) List of tallest buildings in Newark References External links Newark Downtown District website Newark Visitors Center Living Downtown Master Plan 2008 Investors Bet on Revival for Troubled Newark New York Times 1998 Newark A City of Optimism and Progress New York Times 1913 Elements of Urbanism 2008 GoNewark website Newark Newark Economy of Newark, New Jersey Neighborhoods in Newark, New Jersey Populated places in Essex County, New Jersey Tourist attractions in Newark, New Jersey