A week of life in Hoboken + Jersey City means there is plenty of news to catch up on. Among the local headlines — Box Cafe opened in Jersey City Heights, Friends of Liberty State Park is calling for 25k petition signatures, DRIP Fitness announced a permanent move to Hoboken, and so much more. Keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Hoboken, Jersey City, + beyond.
Electric Picks Partners with KIND Campaign for Anti-Bullying Day
Electric Picks has teamed up with KIND Campaign founded by Lauren Paul + Molly Thomas, for a necklace collab launching on Anti-Bullying Day, May 4th. The combo will host an intimate 30-minute virtual summit with Melissa Wood Health to bring awareness to the day. “We believe in the power of the collective conversation,” MJ Carlson, Owner + CEO of Electric Picks shared with Hoboken Girl. “At the summit, Melissa will speak to her experience as an influencer dealing with online bullies and KIND will offer real solutions to bullying.”
Commission Meets to Further Legalize Weed Sales in NJ
The Cannabis Regulatory Commission held a 45-minute meeting on Monday, April 12th, per NJ.com. During the meeting, the commission took over the medical marijuana program, which was transferred out of the state Department of Health.
“Just as it took a collective effort to get medical (marijuana) expansion and adult-use legalization done, collaboration will be key to our future success,” Cannabis Regulatory Commission chair Dianna Houenou said. “We will continue working with government officials, community stakeholders, and people aspiring to become a part of this industry so that we can continue our journey and build a marketplace that people can have confidence in.”
Hoboken Woman Arrested for DUI After Crashing into 4 Vehicles
Friends of Liberty State Park Call for Support
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Young Scientists Cheered for STEM Showcase Work
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Of the nearly 250 students who participated in this year’s Jersey City Medical Center/RWJBarnabas Health STEM Showcase, two of the finalists, Ashita Birla of McNair Academic High School in Jersey City and Rebeca Fernando of Jose Marti STEM Academy in Union City, will represent Hudson County at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, per NJ.com.
Birla’s project, “Transforming Telemedicine: Engineering Thermoelectric Health Check System,” is a green energy remote health check system that focuses on the new demands and practices of healthcare systems during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hoboken School Launches International Social Justice Club
Hoboken Dual Language Charter School – a public charter school with a unique model that teaches a robust academic curriculum in both Spanish and English to over 400 students in grades K-8 – has launched in March a new, first-of-its-kind international social justice club in partnership with a school in Spain, bringing together children from across the globe to discuss how to dismantle racism and deliver equity both at home and internationally. The new innovation was specifically borne out of the COVID-19 crisis as well as the Black Lives Matter movement.
Box Café Opens in Jersey City Heights
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A couple that has called Jersey City home for over 25 years recently opened their first restaurant and is currently serving homemade baked goods, customizable boxed lunches, and sit-down dinners in a cozy setting that reflects their own interior design, per Jersey Digs.
Box Café, tucked inside an unassuming space at 115 Palisade Avenue, is a labor of love from Linda and Sean Kerly. The pair’s vision for the café is French-inspired and the locally sourced dishes at the eatery aim to provide quality meals for people on the go still looking for homemade food.
Studio 17 Temporarily Moves to Hair Cult During Renovations
This week Studio 17 announced the start of renovations at the Hoboken location. They will not be closed during this time but will temporarily move to a private space within Hair Cult {1124 Washington Street}. “Beginning Wednesday, April 14th, Dr. Walter + Dr. Grace will open their doors at 11AM at Hair Cult until renovations are complete. All services will be offered at our temporary space including Ultherapy, microneedling, and treatments with Grace. This will be a seamless transition for our patients.” Appointments can still be reserved via their website. Renovations are anticipated to wrap up in mid-June.
The DRIP Fitness Announces a Permanent Hoboken Location + Summer Pop-Up
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While there has been much news of fitness studios closing over the past year, there are some definite signs of openings. In one such announcement this past week, The DRIP, a fitness studio that debuted in 2020 and quickly became a popular spot offering cycling, boxing, and other HIIT + cardio options, shared that it would be opening a downtown pop-up location as well as a permanent location uptown in the coming months. Last year, The DRIP was voted HobokenGirl’s Best Fitness Studio 2020, and this year they will be opening up a downtown permanent location. Click here to learn about the studio’s pop-up location, the new studio location, and its current studio located at 1012 Grand Street Suite 407 4th Floor.
Hudson Pride Center Announces New Jersey City Location for Its LGBTQ+ Community
For over 25 years, Hudson Pride Center has provided a special place for the LGBTQ+ community to be with one another, utilize resources, host events, and connect. The COVID-19 pandemic led Hudson Pride to go remote, but the organization has worked hard to make sure all of its members felt like they still had the Hudson Pride community in person. And in very exciting in-person event news, just this week, Hudson Pride Center announced its partnership with Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC, who will be providing funds to assist the Hudson Pride Center to open a new Jersey City location in Journal Square.
Hudson County Pauses J+J Vaccines; Continues to Open Additional Appointments as of Monday
Hudson County will be opening its vaccine scheduling system at 11AM today, April 12th for appointments at the USS Juneau Center. The first wave will include 400 appointment slots for Wednesday, April 14th. The county-run site in Kearny anticipates providing roughly 2,270 first doses and a combined total of approximately 4,400 doses this week, 12,850 doses in total. The doses will be distributed at both the USS Juneau Center and at municipal vaccination sites throughout the county. Click here to learn more about what this means for local residents.
Jersey City Announces $2M Partnership to Build New Facility for the Homeless
The City of Jersey City has announced the expansion of Jersey City’s homeless resident outreach efforts with a $2 million commitment to provide more permanent solutions for people experiencing or at-risk of homelessness. The City is enhancing health and social services utilizing our community partner and operator of Jersey City’s drop-in site, Garden State Community Development Corporation. Click here to read more.
MESS Method to Host FREE Outdoor Barre Class
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In an Instagram post shared this week, MESS Method said, “Hoboken, are you ready for us to brighten up your Monday? To celebrate the May 1st Grand Opening of our Studio we’re leading a FREE Mess Barre Outdoors class! Tag your crew, share, and spread the love! HBKN, let’s light those souls and 🍑 on fire!” The class will take place at the Maxwell Pier off 12th Street on Saturday, April 12th at 9AM. Participants should bring a yoga mat, water, and a light mini-band {optional}. Reservations are required.
Black Rail Coffee Now Offering Gluten-Free Sandwich Options
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Black Rail Coffee is now selling gluten-free items sourced from Whos Gluten Free. In an Instagram post, they shared, “Happy days R here! We are very pleased to let you know Gluten-Free Products from @whosglutenfree are now available at the shop. Finally a good gluten-free bread for our sandwiches!!!” Options include milk bread made with coconut milk, four kinds of bagels, novelty sugar cookies, and pecan bars.
Raine and River Apothecary Opening Jersey City Location
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Raine and River Apothecary is opening a new location at 299 Grove Street in downtown Jersey City. The shop will carry candles, tea, deodorant infused with essential oils, and even herbal hot sauce. In an Instagram post, they shared, “At Raine & River, we are extremely grateful and humbled by all the love everyone has been giving to us, our business is growing steadily even through these uncertain times, we would love to let everyone know that R & R will open up our new retail Herb Shop and Apothecary located at 299 Grove Street, Jersey City NJ 07302. Opening Date to be Announced.”
Hudson Theatre Works Presents Eric Walton’s Virtual Impossibilities
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Hudson Theatre Works in partnership with Mile Square Theatre presents Virtual Impossibilities, a unique online performance by mentalist Eric Walton. This full-interactive, highly engaging show will feature astonishing feats of mentalism. “Eric has carefully adapted material from his vast live performance repertoire to suit the virtual platform, and has also developed entirely new routines, tailored and specifically for virtual audiences.” Tickets are available here, along with detailed information regarding the events.
Hoboken High School Recognized as a Common Sense School
Hoboken High School has demonstrated its commitment to taking a whole-community approach to preparing its students to think critically and use technology responsibly to learn, create, and participate while preparing them for the perils that exist in the online realm, such as plagiarism, loss of privacy, and cyberbullying. The recognition acknowledges our
school’s commitment to creating a culture of digital citizenship.
“We applaud the faculty and staff of Hoboken High School for embracing digital citizenship as an important part of their student’s education,” said Liz Kline, Vice President of education programs at Common Sense Education. “Hoboken High School deserves high praise for giving its students the foundational skills they need to compete and succeed in the 21st-century workplace and participate ethically in society at large.”
The Ashford Slammed for Racial Double-Standard Regarding Its Dress Code
being black in america is being told you can’t come inside of an establishment because you have on sweatpants but you can sit outside, and as you sit outside you watch white people walk smoothly inside with sweatpants and hats to the back. dont support TheAshFord in JerseyCityNJ pic.twitter.com/jXpWTFCdh8
— CJ. (@dudebeyourself) April 11, 2021
Jersey City bar, The Ashford, is being slammed over racially charged allegations after a video showing an apparent double-standard for Black and white customers was posted on social media, per NJ.com. Charles Pace, 25, wrote, “being Black in America is being told you can’t come inside of an establishment because you have on sweatpants but you can sit outside, and as you sit outside you watch white people walk smoothly inside with sweatpants and hats to the back.” Pace says he was told he had to sit outside because the jogger sweatpants he was wearing were in violation of The Ashford dress code.
As Pace and his friends finished their meals, they watched as several white men in similar attire walked into the restaurant without so much as a second glance from security. “I understand. I follow dress codes, but if it is blatantly in my face being (racist), you know what I mean?” Pace told NJ.com. “It really set me off.”
This isn’t the first time a situation like this has happened at The Ashford. Similar reports made headlines in 2019. Co-owners of The Ashford, Kenneth Caufield, and Jeff Lam, did not respond to requests for comment but did post on social media after the incident here.
Pier A Gazebo to Become Temporary Prime Cycle Location
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In an effort to find an optimal location for a small business struggling to cope with COVID-19 challenges, the City of Hoboken has found a temporary home for Prime Cycle at the iconic waterfront gazebo on the northeast corner of Pier A, per Tap Into.
Prime Cycle classes have been held in the Maria Pepe batting cages for several months but the opening of Hoboken’s Little League program this spring made the area untenable. As a result, Prime Cycle will temporarily move to the gazebo on Pier A.
Volkswagen Exec Selling Hoboken Townhouse For $5.25M
Chief Operating Officer of Volkswagen Group North America Region, Johan de Nysschen is selling his 6,000-square-foot Hoboken townhouse for $5.25M, per Patch. The home has an indoor pool, rooftop deck, sauna, and a four-car garage. It also features a roughly 500-bottle wine wall, an elevator, a gym, and a game room with a pool table. The home is among the most expensive single-family listings in Hoboken real estate history. The couple purchased the home for $3.5M in 2015, according to a public record, and spent almost three years renovating it.
Man Shot Outside Jersey City Apartment Building, Seeks Help in Pizzeria
Jersey City police responded to reports of gunfire on Wednesday, April 14th after a 29-year-old man was shot in the leg twice outside an apartment building near JFK Boulevard, per ABC. The man entered Vincent’s Pizzeria & Italian Deli nearby for help. He was taken to the hospital for treatment and was scheduled for release.
Amazon 4-Star Donates to TRUE Mentors of Hoboken
Amazon 4-star donated hundreds of toys, crafts, and educational games to TRUE Mentors, a local Hoboken organization that provides local children mentorship to help them reach their fullest potential, on April 8th. The store hosted select mentors/mentees to have their own personal shopping sprees at the store. Amazon 4-star carries a highly curated selection of products from the top categories across amazon.com all rated 4 or 5 stars.
GMA Features Owner of Curry Up Now
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Pritesh Benjamin, owner of Curry Up Now in Hoboken, has been pulling double duty to keep his restaurant going during a global health crisis while still maintaining his work as an E.R. nurse. In an interview with Good Morning America on Tuesday, April 13th Pritesh opened up about what it has been like to juggle so much responsibility. The Indian ex-pat came to the United States at 19 years old and has hustled ever since. He decided to get into the restaurant business pre-pandemic and opened the doors to Curry Up Now on February 25th, 2020.
