A week of life in Hoboken + Jersey City means there is plenty of news to catch up on. Among the local headlines — Jersey City named in Top 10 most walkable cities, iconic records store in Woodbridge closes, new accessible shuttles introduced in Hoboken, and so much more. Keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Hoboken, Jersey City, + beyond.
Youth Arts Program to Unveil 100-ft Mural in Jersey City
Jersey City’s Mural Arts Youth Summer Program is slated to reveal its main project from this summer, a 100-ft tall mural at Ferris High School. Artists ages 14-24 worked together to beautiful their community through this painting which features the theme “Jersey City’s Sister Cities”. On Monday, August 9th at 10AM the artists, mentors, and local officials will hold an unveiling ceremony at the school located at Christopher Columbus Drive between Merseles and Brunswick Streets.
Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s Summer Promotion: #FamilyDayNJ
#FamilyDayNJ prompts all New Jerseyans to go out with their families, spend time together and see and do all the best things New Jersey has to offer. It can be any day you choose, anywhere in New Jersey, doing whatever you love to do together.
Film Studio in Jersey City Declared Largest in Garden State
The LARGEST film studio in NJ is now in Jersey City. @Cinelease_Inc in doing big things @JerseyCity #locationmanagers #locationforfilming pic.twitter.com/UiMYGIeA2B
— On The Set Locations (@OnTheSetGlobal) August 7, 2021
The largest film studio in New Jersey is now located in Jersey City, thanks to Cinelease Studios, located at 21 Caven Point Avenue. On the Set Locations tweeted the news on Saturday, August 7th. Cinelease Studios has six locations in five different states across the country including New York and California.
Jersey City Makes Top 10 List of Most Walkable Cities
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Jersey City made Expedia’s Top 10 Most Walkable Cities in the country, according to Instagram. From the 1200+ acre Liberty State Park and waterfront walkways to the inclines of the Heights and Journal Square, to the slopes of Westside and Greenville, Jersey City has terrain that will suit everyone.
2021 Wellness Crawl Proceeds to Benefit the Hoboken Community Center
Our Annual Hoboken Wellness Crawl Event is back in person — happening September 19th from 11AM to 4PM in Hoboken. This year, we are focusing on brick-and-mortar businesses all around Hoboken as a celebration of all things wellness — think of it like a ‘bar crawl’ but for wellness businesses in our area. You’ll get a map, bracelet, bag, and then walk or bike all around Hoboken at your leisure to visit different wellness businesses locally that all are giving away freebies, class passes, samples, and more.
We have a huge lineup of awesome businesses and a portion of every ticket sold goes to @hobokencommunitycenter food pantry more info and tickets can be found on HobokenWellnessCrawl.com
Hudson Pride Center Celebrates Pride Month
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Jersey City celebrates Hudson County Pride month in August. The Hudson Pride Center posted, “We collaborated with @corgispirits for an exclusive cocktail called “The Realness”. A portion of each sale will go to @hudsonpridecenter for all the great things they do in our community. Come try our Tazo Passion Tea Martini and support a local organization. Available all of August.”
COVID-19 Vaccines Available at Jersey City Farmers Market
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For those who have yet to get the COVID-19 vaccine, the farmers market in the Newark Avenue Pedestrian Mall in Jersey City will now host a mobile unit each Thursday. The Instagram post reads, “The Covid Vaccine Mobile Unit will be back THIS THURSDAY at the farmers’ market! Get your vaccine from 10AM to 6PM on the Newark Avenue Pedestrian Mall. No appointment necessary, free to the public!”
Real Hot Yoga Event August 11th in Hoboken
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On Wednesday August 11th, City Bistro will host a hot yoga event at 7PM in Hoboken. The post says, “We’re SO excited to announce the RHY Hoboken Yoga Social, as tradition would have it, on the @citybistrohoboken rooftop! Join us in kicking off the 6th Year of our Hoboken location, for a little mixing and mingling off our mats. Always a blast and we can’t wait to see you! So grateful to be able to do this again and cheers with our Yoga Fam!”
New Vegan Restaurant Opening in Jersey City
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A new vegan restaurant, Nurish, is opening soon at 346 Communipaw Avenue in Jersey City. The Instagram post says, “The shop will offer premium coffee, delicious food, juices, and other vegan-friendly options.”
Mega Fitness Coming to Jersey City
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Mega Fitness is coming to Jersey City this Fall. Home to some of the most advanced fitness equipment on the market, Mega Fitness trainers guide clients by the principle of “Lagree”. This means dynamic core stability training, muscular endurance training, and strength training all combined to give you the most effective and efficient workout each session.
Records Store in Woodbridge Closes
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Rob Roth, owner of the iconic record store in Woodbridge is retiring. NJ.com announced via Instagram: “This past Friday we said goodbye to Vintage Vinyl in Woodbridge, New Jersey’s premier record store. Owner Rob Roth, who is retiring after 42 years in the industry, is shown here outside the shop.”
Falco to Run City of Hoboken’s Division of Housing
City Councilwoman Vanessa Falco has been selected to head the new Division of Housing in Hoboken, per Tap Into. The Division of Housing is designed to provide easier access to resources that will address the City’s affordable housing needs.
Jersey City Prepares for August Pride
While most of the rest of the world celebrates LGBT Pride in June, Jersey City hosts its festival in August, per NJ.com. This year is the 20th anniversary of the festival, and there will be events leading up to the actual celebration on Aug 21st. These events will be hosted by the Hudson Pride Center and the Jersey City LGBT Pride Festival.
Jersey City Residents Express Frustration with New Fees
In January, Jersey City implemented a new fee intended to pay for residents’ garbage and recycling pickup, the cost of which is assessed based on their water usage, reports NJ.com. Several months later, residents have made their grievances known, mostly due to how the fee was introduced. The fee has recently been suspended for a reevaluation.
New Tower Planned Near Jersey City’s 5 Corners
Plans for a 27-story tower could be approved next week, according to Jersey Digs. The Jersey City Planning Board is expected to hear a proposal for the tower created by Delancey Development. This building would include 584 residential units, 1,925 square feet of retail space, 44,975 square feet of office space, and a parking garage.
Surface Transportation Board to Decide Fate of Proposed Jersey City Park
Jersey City has been fighting over the Embankment in the city’s Historic Downtown, envisioning a walking park where there was formerly a rail line, per NJ.com. Railroad company Conrail is trying to unload the spot to a private developer. The outcome of this battle could be decided by an upcoming ruling by the Surface Transportation Board, a federal agency located in Washington, D.C. The Surface Transportation Board has jurisdiction over railroad transactions, including mergers, line sales, line construction, and line abandonments.
Hoboken Teen Organizes Fundraiser for Non-profit
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Hoboken teen Dylan Zajac’s program for fixing up donated computers and giving them to those in need held a fundraiser this week at Pilsener Haus & Biergarten. Zajac founded the non-profit Computers 4 People in 2019 at the age of 15. So far, the program has donated 900 computers to others. The group is looking to donate 1,000 more in the upcoming year.
National Site Names Jersey City Restaurant in List of Best Chicken Parm
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Eat This, Not That recently named the best chicken parmesan in every state, and the Jersey City restaurant Laico’s made the list. According to its Instagram post, Laico’s, which opened in 1972, was the chicken parmesan representative for New Jersey. Best known for its large portions, the Italian salad, and the fresh bread at every table, Laico’s is a local staple.
Jersey City Housing Authority Receives Grant for Digital Access
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The Jersey City Housing Authority received one of the five AARP Community Challenge grants awarded to New Jersey, intended to bring better digital access to their residents, per Hudson County View. The grant consists of $12,623 to provide WiFi, smart home devices, a computer lab, and digital literacy programming to improve the lives of residents during these difficult times. This grant will help 50 low-income JCHA households to get connected so they can access online education, use telehealth services, connect with people during social isolation, and do other tasks that may be difficult without reliable internet.
Jersey City Outranks New York City on List for Hipsters
LawnStarter recently released its Best Cities for Hipsters rankings, and Jersey City ended up placing fifth, Jersey Digs reports. The ranking is measured by 23 anti-mainstream factors like biker-friendliness, urban gardening, and record stores per capita. Jersey City scored particularly high in the fashion category, based on the availability of thrift stores, vintage clothiers, and tattoo parlors.
Woman Killed at Vigil for Jersey City Shooting Victim
30-year-old Felicia Stewart of Jersey City was fatally shot just before 1AM on Tuesday, August 2nd, marking the 16th homicide in Jersey City in 2021, according to NJ.com. Stewart was attending a vigil for Raquan Bass, a victim of a shooting in the same location just days earlier. Stewart was struck when someone fired into the crowd.
Goatchella Returns to Jersey City
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Goatchella is one of the Harsimus Cemetery’s fundraisers to help maintain the grounds, and it made its return on Saturday, August 7th, per NJ.com. The festival will run from 3PM to 10PM and will be at the Historic Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery. While the bands play, the goats will graze.
Police Explain Pool of Blood on Hoboken Street
Numerous residents posted to Facebook recently, concerned about a conspicuous pool of blood on a residential street at a Hoboken corner, according to Patch. Police responded, saying the blood was from a medical call where a drunk man fell and hit his head. The man was taken to Hoboken University Medical Center.
Hoboken City Employees Required to Be Vaccinated
Hoboken has ordered all city employees to be vaccinated by Aug 9 or undergo weekly COVID-19 testing, per NJ.com. Mayor Ravi Bhalla signed the executive order Friday, in what’s believed to be the first municipality in the state to order its workers to be vaccinated. New York City will soon follow suit. The order comes in an attempt to slow down the rate of new cases, which is beginning to rise once again.
New Accessible Shuttles Introduced in Hoboken
Hoboken recently upgraded its fleet of Hop shuttle buses and introduced new wheelchair-accessible shuttles, reports NJ.com. The new shuttles come equipped with a wheelchair lift, making it easy to get in and out of the buses. The Hop service is free for Hoboken residents and is part of the city’s mass transportation network.
Western Edge Redevelopment Takes a Turn
A plan for an 18-story tower in Hoboken recently got shot down, putting a twist into the battle over Western Edge redevelopment, per NJ.com. The Hoboken Planning Board rejected a site plan application, based on how the structure would affect views of New York City. The Board voted 5-4 to reject the plan, citing concerns over lot coverage, how it was calculated and what it may look like. Plans will need to be redeveloped and proposed again at a later date.
Hoboken Emergency Workers Rescue Child from Hudson River
Hoboken emergency workers rescued a child from the Hudson River on Friday, Patch reports. The child reportedly went into the water to retrieve a soccer ball and wound up struggling. The Hudson River near the Hoboken waterfront has a notoriously strong current, and many unsuspecting people have been swept away. Thankfully the child was rescued and is well.
New Jersey Bakery Famous for Cookies Opens New Hoboken Location
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The Cookie Connect, a New Jersey bakery is expanding to two more locations, Hoboken and Morristown, according to NJ.com. Both stores are expected to open this fall. The bakery is known for its cookies, cereal-topped soft-serve ice cream, shakes, and cookie cups.
Hoboken/Jersey City Light Rail Elevators Temporarily Closed
The Hoboken and Jersey City Light Rail elevators will be closed for the next few weekends to replace window parts, per Patch. The elevator and footbridge will be closed every Saturday and Sunday until September in order to fix the louvers. Shuttle buses will be available for those who need them.
What’s Going On With Bow Tie Cinemas Hoboken? An Update
Passersby encircling the area underneath the bridge on 14th Street in Hoboken will notice the Bow Tie Cinemas theater is currently closed. There are no alerts on the front doors, the movie posters outside the theater remain empty, and wallpaper covers the glass doors and windows blocking the view inside. So what’s going on with the theater? Will it be opening any time soon? It turns out that there are plans for the theater after all – and it’s not looking good for theater-goers. Click here to read about the future of Bow Tie Cinemas in Hoboken.
Pedestrian Safety Improvements Finalized in Hoboken
Local officials announced this week that Vision Zero pedestrian safety improvements and traffic signal upgrades have been completed and are now in effect at the intersection of 11th Street and Willow Avenue, according to a press release. The intersection now has four new concrete curb extensions in order to reduce pedestrian crossing distances. The improvements also come with ADA-compliant curb ramps with detectable warning surfaces at all surfaces, high-visibility crosswalks with new pedestrian countdown timers, and new traffic signals with 12” LED signal faces.
