Ironbound section is cool, lots of Brazilian/latin/spanish/Portuguese people so plenty of cool shit to do. They have Portuguese and a brazillian parade every year. Branch brook park has 2nd largest selection of cherry blossom trees in the country if memory serves and they have a huge festival every year. Even in NJ newark gets a bad rap but its a cool place.

Newark has some of the best spanish/Portuguese food in the area and is a great city. Parts of it are dangerous but so was NYC in the 90s. I wouldnt travel half way around the country to go there but if youre in NYC area it os worth visiting.