It’s the official first full week of spring and as cherry blossoms have been busy blooming all over Hudson County, we’ve been busy gathering all the important news stories for you. Among the local news: The slew of celebrity sightings in Hoboken and Jersey City continues; a popular restaurant from Montclair is set to open its second location in Weehawken; and an arrest was made this week in connection to a homicide that occurred in Jersey City. Keep reading for all the news in Hoboken + Jersey City for the week ending on March 31st, 2024.
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Among the Headlines (read on for the full stories):
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- Popular Montclair Restaurant Faubourg to Open Second Location in Weehawken
- Recap of Timothée Chalamet’s Jersey City Visit for Upcoming Bob Dylan Biopic
- NYC-Based Chinese Restaurant, Dun Huang, Opens Jersey City Location
- Whole Spectrum Autism’s Annual Gala is Back for 2024 in Jersey City
- Jennifer Lopez Spotted in Hoboken Tuesday; Shooting New Film
- Family of Jackie Robinson Pledges to Fund Liberty State Park Baseball Field
- Hoboken Man Arrested in Connection with Jersey City Homicide
- NYC’s Congestion Pricing Plan Passes: What It Means for New Jersey Residents
- Hoboken Woman in Need of Kidney Donor
- Officials Unveil Blueprint for New Journal Square Park
Recap of Timothée Chalamet’s Jersey City Visit for Upcoming Bob Dylan Biopic
Photo Credit: @gc_booking
Over the past week, the internet has been awash with photos of actor Timothée Chalamet dressed as prolific folk musician Bob Dylan. The actor, fresh off the Dune: Part Two press tour, is gearing up to star in a Bob Dylan biopic called A Complete Unknown. Per some savvy Jersey City locals, not everything is completely unknown — at least, not the movie’s filming locations. On Monday, March 25th, film crews for the upcoming movie were spotted at the Miss America Diner in Jersey City. Keep reading for everything we know about the movie.
Popular Montclair Restaurant Faubourg to Open Second Location in Weehawken
Photo Credit: Juliet Lucia Fairbrother
Weehawken, New Jersey might be the famed dueling grounds of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr, but a new restaurant is bringing a taste of France to the historic Hudson County town. Faubourg, a French brasserie in Montclair, is opening a second location in Weehawken on the ground floor or River House 11 at 1100 Avenue at Port Imperial. Under the same name, Faubourg Weehawken will mirror the awarded menu and elevated atmosphere of its Essex County counterpart, serving dinner seven nights a week and weekend brunch. Read more about Faubourg Weehawken here.
Miller by Marriage Filming on 11th Street + Willow Avenue in Hoboken
Photo Credit: HG Reader
On Tuesday, March 26th, Hoboken locals took note of signage uptown indicating that a new movie, Miller by Marriage, is filming on 11th Street + Willow Avenue. The project comes from famed Hollywood actor and director Edward Burns, who you may have seen in popular movies like 27 Dresses and Saving Private Ryan. Click here for more details about the filming.
NYC-Based Chinese Restaurant, Dun Huang, Opens Jersey City Location
Noodles, Chinese hamburgers, salads, and more; New York City-based restaurant Dun Huang opened a new location in Jersey City this spring at 172 River Street. The chain is bringing its specialty hand-pulled noodles across the Hudson River, serving up tasty Chinese cuisine in the Newport area. Inspired by the diverse community that calls Jersey City home, the restaurant is eager to welcome diners and encourages people to sample its delicious menu this spring. Find out all the details here.
Whole Spectrum Autism’s Annual Gala is Back for 2024 in Jersey City
Autism Acceptance Month, honored in April each year, is just around the corner — and a Jersey City non-profit is continuing its mission to raise acceptance. Whole Spectrum Autism fights for inclusion and acceptance surrounding autism year-round. The non-profit will host various events around Hudson County and North Jersey in the upcoming months — including its annual Autism Acceptance Gala in June. More about Whole Spectrum Autism and how you can show your support here.
Jennifer Lopez Spotted in Hoboken Tuesday; Shooting New Film
Photo Credit: Creative Commons
We’re not officially a celebrity gossip blog, but the amount of Hollywood figures in Hudson County lately is forcing our proverbial hands and the local stories they write. Joining this week’s lineup of rumored celebrity sightings is none other than Mrs. Jenny from the Block, Mrs. Lola, Mrs. JLo. That’s right — Jennifer Lopez was spotted in Hoboken today, March 26th, filming her upcoming movie Kiss of the Spider Woman at Elysian Cafe. Read more here.
Is Equinox Opening a Hoboken Location?
Photo Credit: Creative Commons
Another fitness chain entered the Hoboken rumor mill this week: staff members at Equinox, the luxury members-only gym, shared that a Hoboken location might be in the works. Here’s what we know about the rumors surrounding a potential Equinox location in Hoboken.
CoolVines Owner Gives Update on Jersey City Food Hall
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Back in mid-September, the team behind a family-owned wine shop in Jersey City, CoolVines, announced a new venture in Jersey City. Called The Bread Factory, the project was a new food hall on the ground floor of the 19th-century bread factory in the Powerhouse Arts District, 124 Bay Street. The building is currently under development and will soon be home to several new businesses — except for the proposed food hall. Originally slated to open this spring, plans for the food hall have dissipated, and The Bread Factory is no longer coming to Jersey City — but the CoolVines team has confirmed with us that the brand is still thriving and intends to grow even more. Read more here.
Jersey City Residents Continue to Speak Out Against Planned Closure of “Loew’s Alley”
Plans to close an alleyway near the historic Loew’s Theater have sparked anger amongst Jersey City locals. The alleyway, dubbed “Loew’s Alley,” is often used as a shortcut by commuters on their way to the Journal Square Path Station. The city plans to close the alleyway while the historic theater undergoes renovations — as part of a larger investment in the development and revitalization of the Journal Square neighborhood. After voicing their concerns at a city meeting last week, residents and community leaders continued to express their frustrations to NJ.com.
Saint Peter’s University Names First Hispanic President in 152-Year History
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On Tuesday the Saint Peter’s University Board of Trustees unanimously voted to appoint Hubert Benitez as the 23rd president of the school. Benitez, a Colombia native, will be the first Hispanic leader in the school’s over 150-year history, per NJ.com. His tenure is set to begin in July.
Jersey City School Evacuated Tuesday Due to Fire
On Tuesday, a fire that sparked in the basement bathroom of The Jersey City Global Charter School led to an evacuation of over 400 students and all school faculty. A spokesperson for the school said no one was harmed. According to NJ.com, firefighters arrived around 2PM and promptly extinguished the fire with little damage to the surroundings. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
Family of Jackie Robinson Pledges to Fund Liberty State Park Baseball Field
A proposed baseball field in Liberty State Park could be financed by former baseball star Jackie Robinson’s family. At a recent meeting of the Liberty State Park Task Force, Robinson’s granddaughter, Ayo Robinson, made a pledge to donate funds towards the project, per NJ.com.
Secaucus Superintendent Suspended; Put On Paid Leave
Superintendent of Secaucus Schools Erick Alfonso has been suspended and placed on paid leave following a school board vote on Friday. Members of the board failed to disclose a reason for the suspension. Alfonso will continue to receive his $180,000 salary while on leave, per Patch.
Jersey City Council Contemplates Action on E-Bike Ordinance
At a recent caucus meeting, Jersey City Council members discussed the possibility of regulating e-bike deliveries. Per Hudson County View, JC Commerce Department Director Maynard Woodson claimed that the jurisdiction to implement a food delivery ordinance fell under the Department of Health and Human Services. The issue of how to regulate e-bike deliveries has also been a topic of discussion — and draw of ire — amongst Jersey City locals on social media platforms such as Reddit.
Hoboken Man Arrested in Connection with Jersey City Homicide
Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with a shooting that took place in Jersey City on Saturday, March 9th that left one person dead and two others injured. Per a press release from the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday, March 27th, a Hoboken man has been charged with murder, and a Jersey City man has been charged with other offenses in connection with the incident. Check for updates on this developing story here.
NYC’s Congestion Pricing Plan Passes: What It Means for New Jersey Residents
For many New Jersey residents, the trek to and from New York City has become a part of the 2024 work week, with many offices requiring in-person time. As more workers return to the office, such commuters might be in for a rather rude awakening. An additional toll for NJ commuters entering New York called the ‘Congestion Pricing Plan’ has passed in its final vote. Here’s what the NYC Congestion Pricing Plan means for New Jersey residents, including new fees + regulations.
Jersey City Marathon Returns Next Month
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The Jersey City Marathon and Half-Marathon are set to return to Hudson County on Sunday, April 14th. The annual event brings over 20,000 people to the area. Participants and sponsors can still sign up here.
Hoboken Woman in Need of Kidney Donor
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Friends of a Hoboken woman took to social media to put the word out that she is looking for a kidney donor. According to an Instagram post, Barbie Melendez-Riviera was diagnosed with AA amyloidosis and referred to by friends as “a loving friend, twin mama, nurse, & wife.” More information can be found here.
Officials Unveil Blueprint for New Journal Square Park
Residents of Jersey City’s Journal Square neighborhood know greenspace is hard to come by. But soon, this may no longer be the case: plans were made public this week for a new park at 595 Newark Ave, near the Frank J. Guarini Justice Center. “Courthouse Pak,” as it’s been referred to by officials, will possess greenspaces, an urban forest, a fountain, pollinator gardens, and more. The park is in its final stages of construction and will be maintained by the county once it opens, per Jersey City Times.
Last Chance to Try Alessio’s Hoboken Girl Sandwich Benefitting York Street Project
Photo Credit: Hannah Taub
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end — even delicious breakfast sandwiches that benefit a good cause. A month-long successful collaboration between The Hoboken Girl and Alessio’s Cafe to raise money for York Street Project, a local Jersey City nonprofit providing shelter and aid to families, comes to an end today, Sunday, March 31st. Readers can still try the breakfast sandwich at Alessio’s locations (539 Park Avenue in Hoboken + 99 Franklin Street in Jersey City) today. 100% of the proceeds from The Hoboken’s Girl’s portion of sales will be donated to York Street Project. Click here to learn more about the partnership and cause.
