Ringing in the holiday season is a magical time in Hudson County — and a busy one, so as always we’re here to cover the local news and bring you a weekly roundup of everything you might have missed in Hoboken + Jersey City. Catch up on all there is to know, including the following headlines: Santa to visit three Hoboken locations for photos, Rui Tea to open in Downtown Jersey City, and One12 to close after two years in Hoboken; and so much more. Keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Hoboken, Jersey City, + beyond.
City of Hoboken Officially Acquires Union Dry Dock
On Thursday, December 7th, Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla announced that the City of Hoboken has officially acquired the Union Dry Dock waterfront property, according to a press release. This acquisition will now allow for the development of a park at the site and connect the final piece of the publicly accessible waterfront.
Local Dance Studio to Open New Hoboken Location
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Local recreational + competitive dance school, Studio L, is opening a new location in Hoboken at 316 Sinatra Drive. According to Tap Into, classes include ballet, hip hop, tap/jazz, and more.
Unsealed Census Data Reveals Handwritten Records of Frank Sinatra + Joe Pesci
Available for the first time in 2022, unsealed census records from 1950 show records of Frank Sinatra’s family. According to Patch, his father worked full-time as a fireman in 1950 — the same year it was recorded that Joe Pesci’s dad “worked with bottles” as a brewery worker. The Census Bureau and National Archives leadership decided to keep the records sealed for 72 years, possibly because it was longer than the average lifespan at the time.
Artisan Kitchen One12 Hoboken is Now Closed
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On Saturday, December 3rd the owners of One12, an Italian restaurant located at 112 Willow Avenue in Hoboken, announced that it would be closing. The menu featured sandwiches, salads, and classic Italian dishes. Click here for what we know.
$25K Reward Reignites Search for Man Accused of 1987 Murder
The FBI and the NYPD recently announced a $25,000 award for information leading to the arrest of fugitive Danny Liggett who is wanted in a 1987 murder. According to Patch, he was living in Hoboken at the time of the incident. Liggett is accused of stabbing a wheelchair-bound Manhattan man to death over three decades ago and is currently on the FBI’s Most Wanted list.
Santa to Visit 3 Hoboken Locations for Photo This Sunday
On Sunday, December 11th, Santa and his elves will visit the Hoboken community and stop at three locations for photos. According to Patch, the three stops will include Seventh + Monroe Streets, Church Square Park, and 11th + Washington Streets. Santa will ride through town on a float starting at Jefferson Street between 14th and 15th Streets around 11AM.
Sopranos Star Gives Shout Out to Tree Barn Employees for Dog Rescue
Best known for his roles as Ralphie Cifaretto in The Sopranos or as “Guido the Killer Pimp” in Risky Businesses, Joey has notoriously stolen scenes with his rough-around-the-edges characters. His most recent role, however, shows a softer side to the veteran actor and took place right here in The Mile Square.
On Sunday, December 4th, Joey’s daughter Daniella posted a video to her Instagram story describing a situation in which employees of The Tree Barn (located at 6th and Willow) in Hoboken chased and ultimately caught a rogue Yorkie terrier that had slipped away from its harness. While Joey didn’t actually rescue the dog, he shared his admiration for the valor the employees showed in their hunt for the runaway pup. Click here for the full story.
Rui Tea to Open in Downtown Jersey City
Signage is already up for a new bubble tea shop, Rui Tea, at 10 Provost Street in Downtown Jersey City. According to Jersey Digs, this stretch of retail spaces along Grove Street has been booming with new shops lately. Rui Tea recently held an event inside Barre 3 as a way to introduce themselves to the community. The drink menu features high-quality fresh teas and it is anticipated the shop will open this month.
Christmas Tree and Menorah Lighting + Local Holiday Donations in Hoboken
On Thursday, December 8th the annual Christmas Tree + Menorah Lighting took place at 4:15PM at the intersection of 11th + Washington Streets. According to Patch, the event included free hot chocolate + cookies from The Hive and glow sticks handed out by Apple Montessori Schools. This holiday season the Hoboken Community Center will be accepting non-perishable items for the Hoboken Food Pantry and both the Hoboken Police and Hoboken Fire Departments will be accepting unwrapped toys + gift cards to donate to families in need.
City of Hoboken Votes in Favor of $1-an-Hour Increase in Parking Fees
On Wednesday, December 7th, the Hoboken City Council voted in favor of increasing parking rates by $1 per hour. According to NJ.com, the idea is that parking spaces will turn over more quickly, making it easier to find parking.
Daybase to Close Hoboken Location
In a message shared earlier this week, local coworking space Daybase announced its permanent closure. The message reads, “Unfortunately, we have made the difficult decision to close our Hoboken location. This location is now permanently closed.” Members will be refunded for the balance of monthly memberships and any outstanding unredeemed credit purchases within two to three business days.
Secaucus Hospital Fined $63K for Weapons Found in August
Hudson Regional Hospital located in Secaucus was recently fined for failing to maintain plans and procedures to keep a safe environment, per NJ.com. A stash of weapons, including firearms and ammunition, was found in the office of a marketing director at the hospital in August.
City of Hoboken to Increase Parking Violations to $150
The City of Hoboken is aiming to increase the fine for illegally parking a car in the bike lane along Washington Street. According to NJ.com, drivers often double park, taking up a portion of the bike lane, while shopping or picking up a food order on Hoboken’s main drag. The increased fine would hopefully decrease this practice.
Hudson County Schools of Technology Servers Down
Internal computer servers at multiple local tech schools were down earlier this week, resulting in two half-days for students, per NJ.com. High Tech High School, County Prep, and Explore Middle School, located in Secaucus and Jersey City, were impacted by the tech hiccup. Teachers took the half-days to update lesson plans with low-tech teaching solutions.
Night of Remembrance Held in Memory of 2019 Antisemitic Attack Victims
On Thursday, December 8th, local officials and community members gathered to memorialize the victims of an antisemitic attack that took place in 2019, Patch reported. Four individuals including a mother, a store worker, a student, and a Jersey City police officer were killed in a shooting at a Kosher grocery store on December 10th. Three years later, amid an uptick in threats and antisemitic comments, the community came together in honor of those individuals.
Dog Survives Swim Across the Hudson River
On Saturday, December 3rd, a Manhattan pup survived a spontaneous swim from New York City over to New Jersey. According to NJ.com, the Leonberger Bernese mix ran for a mile and a half in the Upper West Side before swimming across the river and being rescued by the Edgewater Fire Company around 1:30AM.
Hoboken City Council Contracts Former Judge to Review Local Rent Control Laws
The Hoboken City Council voted 8-1 in favor of a $10K contract to hire former Hudson County Superior Court Judge Barry Sarkisian to serve as legal counsel for rent control for the city. According to Hudson County View, community members in attendance shared thoughts about the contract, stating they would prefer a Hoboken resident to serve as counsel. Council President Mike Russo shared why Sarkisian was selected and what his qualifications are, resulting in the 8-1 vote.
New Fish Market + Raw Bar Coming to Hoboken
A new fish market + raw bar called Angelo Seafood Market recently put up signage at 626 Washington Street. The new market is brought to the Mile Square by the owners of Stingray Lounge, a local uptown favorite for their cocktails and raw bar. Angelo Seafood Market will be opening in 2023, and if it’s anything like Stingray Lounge, Hudson County residents should be getting excited for this new seafood spot. Click here for what we know about Angelo Seafood Market coming to Hoboken.
Local Barre Social Club is Hosting Grand Opening This Weekend
The Local Barre Social Club is hosting grand opening events this weekend, from Friday, December 9th to Sunday, December 9th. From nanny services and private workspaces to barre classes and compression recovery boots — the list of amenities is truly impressive. Grand opening events are happening all weekend and include complimentary classes, location tours, and a chance to check out all of the amenities in person.
Jersey City to Build 1-Acre Park at City Hall
Local officials announced this week to build a 1-acre park at City Hall, per NJ.com. The park will be used as a modern-day town square, primarily for city-related special events.
