Home COVID-19 25 Hoboken + Jersey City Stories You Missed This Week

25 Hoboken + Jersey City Stories You Missed This Week

by Ainsley Layland
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News and events in the area are in full force, and as always, we’ve got you covered. Among the headlines — the first vaccine against COVID-19 was administered in Newark, a single-family historic home sells for $5M, Vivi Girl Shop closes its doors, + so much more — keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Hoboken and Jersey City news:

Hoboken Community Center Food Pantry in Need of Non-Perishable Food Donations

food donations hoboken jersey city

The Hoboken Community Center Food Pantry is in need of food donations for the holidays. Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher posted on her Facebook a photo of their empty shelves, and wrote, “At a time when food insecurities are rising, they could use your help filling their shelves. Specific items they currently are struggling to source are canned fruit, coffee, small bottles of cooking oil, and 1 – 2lb bags/boxes of white and brown rice. You can order online and have delivered to them at 1301 Washington Street. Or just buy a few extra items next time you shop and email me and I’ll help you get them delivered. Hoboken2Nd@gmail.com Also, the pantry can buy items cheaper than the average person so they also happily accept $$$ donations at hobokencc.org/donate. Let’s do what we can to fill all their shelves!”

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Santa Comes to Hoboken This Tuesday

Santa

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The Hoboken Fire Department has organized a riding tour for Santa to greet the children of Hoboken. This Tuesday, December 22nd he will start his tour through town around 4PM at the Observer Hwy firehouse located at 5 Observer Hwy in downtown Hoboken. Santa’s path will head up Jackson Street to 7th Street where he will turn onto Madison Avenue and take that up to 14th Street. From there he will take Willow Avenue back down to Observer Highway. You can follow along and view the rest of Santa’s route via Twitter @Local1078 to see where Santa is heading.

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Spa Diner Closes; Cites COVID-19 Pandemic as Reason, Hopes to Reopen

the spa diner hoboken

“Dear friends and neighbors we are sorry to say we are closed due to COVID,” said owner Sean McGarr in a statement to TAPinto Hoboken. “We have struggled but in the end COVID beat us, we are hopeful to do a big renovation and bring back your favorite diner soon. Thank you for all your support for the past 70 years.”

16 NJ MVC Agencies Have Closed Due to COVID-19

News

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The MVC in Somerville is the latest to close in a series of department closures due to the coronavirus. Of the 39 agencies in New Jersey, 16 have closed as of Monday morning. While locations have plans to reopen — including Newark, Jersey City, and Bayonne, it would be wise to check the online status of an MVC before making the trip in person, per NJ.com.

Jersey City Skyline Featured in SNL Skit

JC in background of SNL sketch from jerseycity

During a skit on Saturday Night Live on December 12th, viewers could see the Jersey City skyline in the background. The skit “The Dionne Warwick Talk Show” featured a spoof of Ego Nwodim as Dionne Warwick who is originally from Orange, New Jersey.

First Hudson County Vaccination Site to Open in Kearney

Hudson County’s first vaccine location will open this week at the USS Juneau Center, Office of Emergency Management in Kearny. The site will be overseen by the recently formed Hudson County Vaccine Task Force to coordinate the response across local departments. Click here for the full story.

Sabor A Maiz in Jersey City to Close its Doors

Sabor A Maiz, an authentic Venezuelan spot in Jersey City will be closing this month. “We are addressing our distinguished clientele to inform them with great sadness that our house Sabor A Maiz will close its doors this December 24,” the restaurant announced earlier this week via Instagram. “We want to thank them from the bottom of our hearts for all the expressions of affection and praise for all our meals since the beginning of October 5th, 2019.”

Exterior at 537 Summit Avenue Almost Complete

The building at 537 Summit Avenue is the tallest in a three-tower complex and is nearing completion. Two of the towers are near completion with the third tower still in the works. The entire complex is slated for a 2024 completion date with all three towers finished at that time, per NewYorkYIMBY.com.

First Vaccines Administered in Newark

News

The first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine was administered on Tuesday morning at University Hospital Newark. Governor Murphy has said that upwards of 460,000 doses could be headed to New Jersey this month and early into early next month. Get the full story here.

The City of Hoboken Receives Perfect Rating for Inclusivity

Ever since 2017 Hoboken has been awarded a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign’s Municipal Equality Index, 2020 has been no different. The annual examination reviews city-wide policies in over 500 municipalities across the country. Hoboken is one of 94 cities in the US to earn a 100% rating. Click here for more details.

Jersey City to Write $1,500 Checks to Cover Rent

On December 14th Mayor Steve Fulop announced that Jersey City will distribute checks in the amount of $1,500 to help citizens cover rent who are unable to do so because of COVID-19. “Later this month, we will also launch our local rent relief program and it will be flexible in writing one-time checks of $1,500 to Jersey City families that need it,” Fulop said in his recorded State of the City speech on Monday. “I know this isn’t the absolute answer to ending difficult times, but during the pandemic, we are all figuring it out from one month to the next…” per Jersey City’s official site. You can read more here.

Winners Announced for Best Of Hoboken + Jersey City 2020

News

After weeks of anticipation and voting, the results are in for this year’s Best Of 2020 awards. Categories include best wine bar, best restaurant, best wellness business, best sushi, best spray tan, best personal trainer, and so much more for both Hoboken + Jersey City. Click here to discover the results.

NJ Supreme Court Discontinues Requirements for Transgender Name Changes

Earlier this week, the New Jersey Supreme Court determined that transgender residents seeking to legally change their name do not need to publish the change in the newspaper. Before this ruling, it was required for a transgender individual to pay for a legal ad in the local newspaper notifying readers of the forthcoming change. NorthJersey.com reports that local advocates are calling it a win for the LGBTQ+ community.

Hoboken May Commission First Affordable Senior Building

News

If you’re familiar with the parking lot located at 11th Street and Willow Avenue you might be looking at the future location for Hoboken’s first-ever affordable housing building for seniors in over 30 years. The 5-story building would house 24 units and allow city officials to charge less than $500 per month to tenants. As new luxury developments continue to grace the skyline, this would offer a solution for residents being priced out of Hoboken, per NJ.com.

Vivi Girl Shop Closes Storefront in Jersey City

This week Vivi Girl Shop closed its Jersey City storefront located at 512 Jersey Avenue. Saturday, December 19th was the last day to shop the in-store merchandise for local customers. The shop announced earlier this month that they would be closing via Instagram. “Happy Rainy Saturday. If you haven’t heard already, we’re closing our Jersey Avenue store and the last day for in-person shopping is December 19th. But you can still shop online! We hope to see your lovely {masked, please!} faces soon!” Shopping is still available on their website, click here for the full story.

Yelp Identifies Top 10 Restaurants in Foodie Cities, Hoboken Included

News

Based on rave reviews submitted throughout the year, Yelp compiled a list of the most highly rated restaurants in New Jersey foodie capitols. These cities include Jersey City, Hoboken, Montclair, Morristown, Ridgewood, and Westfield. A few on the Hoboken list are Zack’s Oak Bar + Restaurant, Alessio’s, and Muteki Ramen. Click here for the full list.

Jersey City to Open 6 Vaccination Sites

News

With the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccine, Jersey City and surrounding areas have plans to open vaccination sites. Jersey City has confirmed 4 of the locations as of this week: the Mary McLeod Bethune Life Center, the Joseph Connors Senior Center, James J. Ferris High School, and Franklin L. Williams School, according to the Health and Human Services Department. The City Council will decide how to spend the $2M to establish the sites. Click here for more.

Construction Reveals 1970s Bowling Alley in Hoboken

Photo credit: Wise Vision

Sourced confirmed this week that construction efforts during the renovation at Wise Vision in Hoboken revealed a bowling alley dating back to 1873. It was used by Republicans in the 1920s and by the Democrats in the 1930s. Click here for pictures of the unearthed pins, bowling balls, and surrounding alley.

City Council to Discuss Optimizing Revenue from NYC Marijuana Customers

News

In the November election, NJ voters approved the legalization of marijuana in the state. This week the Hoboken City Council supported a resolution to encourage Governor Murphy to allow select cities to generate additional tax revenue from the sale of cannabis. “In Hudson County as a whole and Hoboken specifically, we anticipate needing additional community resources associated with legal cannabis sales because of our proximity to New York City, where adult-use marijuana is not yet legal,” said Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher and Councilman Michael DeFusco in a joint statement. Tap Into has the full story.

Staying Home? Here are Restaurants Open on Christmas Eve and Day in Hoboken + Jersey City

News

Local residents can relieve some of the stress surrounding the holidays’ thanks to local restaurants offering their menus on Christmas Eve and on Christmas Day. Over 10 restaurants in Hoboken and 6 Jersey City restaurants will be open including, Anthony David’s Elysian Café, Precious Chinese Cuisine, Fire + Oak, Hard Grove, and Satis Bistro. Click here for the full list of open restaurants.

Jersey City Officials Shut Down Several Parklets Due to Lack of Ventilation and Fire Risks

News

Officials are strictly enforcing CDC guidelines regarding parklets used as outdoor dining in response to COVID-19. This month alone, 8 outdoor dining structures were closed. After an estimated one-third of local small businesses closing this year, restaurants continue to face uncertainty. Outdoor dining structures need ventilation and can’t pose a fire risk to customers. Those in violation of CDC guidelines or without proper approval will be closed. The full story is available on NJ.com.

Councilman Ruben Ramos Files for 2021 Mayoral Run

Hoboken Councilman Ruben Ramos has filed the first round of paperwork required to run for mayor in the 2021 election. At this point the paperwork filed creates the “Ramos for Mayor” committee along with a designated treasurer. The full story is available on NJ.com.

Home Sale Prices on the Rise Despite Low Volume Along Gold Coast

Real estate along New Jersey’s Gold Coast has historically been expensive but this year has seen a jump in price in the more popular suburban towns. The third quarter of 2020 did see an increase in sales, likely due to the return of in-person showings making it easier for interested buyers to feel comfortable investing in a new property. The median sales price overall increased, with Bergen-Lafayette seeing a 24% increase compared to last year, per Jersey Digs.

Historic Hoboken Mansion Sells for $5 Million, Breaks Record

Photo credit: Boutique Realty

The historic home at 903 Hudson Street in Hoboken recently sold for $5M, making it one of the highest single-family sale to date. It underwent ground-up construction in 2014, resulting in the luxury 6 bedroom, 5 bathroom home located just a block from Elysian Park. Click here for pictures and more details of this amazing home.

Jersey City’s Lee Sims Gets NY Times Mention

News

Thanks to a recent mention in The New York Times, Lee Sims in Jersey City has seen an uptick in orders and in-store customers. “The reach of the Times was very surprising. The response from our customers was very gratifying and humbling because they’re the ones who actually have as much ownership in this store as we do. It was a tribute to our customers because our store is like theirs,” owner Valerie Vlahakis told Hoboken Girl. Click here for the full story.

 

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