Hudson County is always buzzing and we are never short of news to report. Some important things to catch up on in the Hoboken + Jersey City area include: The Summer of Fun programming schedule released, a new speakeasy to hit Jersey City, and the Through the Windows Art Exhibit to begin in Hoboken this week. Read on for more Hudson County headlines you missed the week of May 7th, 2023.
Liberty Science High School Official Ground Breaking Ceremony
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Mayor Fulop joined together with alongside Liberty Science Center President and CEO Paul Hoffman, LSC Board Member and Benefactor Laura Overdeck, Amy Lin-Rodriguez and Craig Guy, Superintendent and President of the Hudson County Schools of Technology, and Ivory Williams, LSC Vice President for STEM Teaching, Learning & Innovation to officially break ground today.
The school is projected to be a world-class, public, magnet STEM academy, operated by the Hudson County School of Technology, and will open in 2025, hosting a number of earth, life, and space programs for students in grades 9 through 12 across Hudson County.
Jersey City Arts and Culture Trust Fund Awarded $1mil to Artists
(Photo Credit: Jersey City Arts Council)
$1 million dollars in grant money has been awarded to local artists, educational arts programs, and art organizations from the Jersey City Arts and Culture Trust Fund. According to NJ.com, 68 arts programs and organizations and 20 fellowship grants were awarded with a focus on diversity, equity access, and inclusion and support a large number of projects including theater, music, visual arts, and art education classes.
“We are exceptionally proud to announce our 2023 JCACTF grantees,” shared Elizabeth Phillips-Lorenzo, co-chair of the Arts and Culture Trust Fund committee. “This year’s grantees spotlight the diversity that makes Jersey City the uniquely special place that it is. We love seeing the continued growth and expansion of our impactful arts programming all across the city, and this second round of grants is key to that.”
Mayor Bhalla Vetoes Hoboken Rent Control Amendment
Members of the Hoboken City Council have been working towards refining the city’s 50-year-old Rent Control Ordinance this past year. At last week’s meeting, Mayor Bhalla vetoed the most recent round of amendments.
Mayor Bhalla released a statement; an excerpt from it reads as follows: “As Mayor and as a former tenant advocate attorney, I strongly believe that the intent of rent control is to maintain affordability of a unit for the current and future tenants who would occupy that unit. When a tenant moves out of the rent-controlled unit, as it existed previously, rent control provisions never followed the tenant, it was always connected to the unit. Adopting this ordinance would have the effect of eliminating this protection with the unit once a tenant moves out.” Read the full statement here.
Left Bank Burger To Open Second JC Location
Left Bank Burger is officially making its way into the Bergen-Lafayette section of Jersey City. The expansion will occupy the former Sam a.m. location at 196 Pine Street. The menu will mimic the original location and will serve a wide variety of menu items including the famous, all-natural, grass-fed, hand-crafted beef burgers such as the Ghostface Killer Burger – an espresso-rubbed beef burger, ghost pepper jam, smoked, gouda, sweet bacon tots, red onions, tomato, and BBQ sauce and the Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich.
It is still unclear if the new post will have a bar like the original location but we will keep you posted as we learn more.
Mexican Eatery + Tequila Bar to Come to Jersey City
According to Pierson Commercial, Meximodo – Cucina Mexicana and Tequila Bar will be coming to Jersey City in the Summer of 2024, as reported by Jersey Digs. The menu is expected to source local ingredients and highlight all the best of Mexican culture.
According to Pierson Commercial, the full-service indoor and outdoor dining space will be located at Haus25, located at 25 Christopher Columbus Drive, and will feature the largest tequila selections in the metro area.
Hudson School Junior Starts Charity for Ecuadorian School
Hoboken native, Olivia Yerovi, a junior at the Hudson School, is the founder of Teens for Tupigachi (Teens4Tupigachi) with her sister, Maia. The duo started this organization to benefit Unidad Educative: Maria de las Suarez, a public school in Tupigachi, Ecuador. Olivia and Maia have been visiting Ecuador their whole lives and even have family there. It became apparent to them that their educational system was severely underfunded, which is why they decided to start Teens4Tupigachi.
Their community service projects include raising money, purchasing classroom materials, designing murals, and handling the behind-the-scenes aspects of this charity. The two sisters plan to expand their charity to include service trips to Ecuador for volunteers to become more active participants in some hands-on projects. For more information or to get involved, visit their website.
Riverview Farmers Market Returns to The Heights
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The weekly Riverview Farmers Market, located at Riverview-Fisk Park (498 Palisade Avenue) will kickstart their 13th season this Sunday, May 8th. Available at the market will be a variety of produce, coffee, baked goods, music, and more. The Opening Day market will feature live music by Christine Santelli and Rockassori plus 30+ local vendors and so much more. The market runs every Sunday from 10:00AM to 2:00PM through November.
National Park Service to Hold Annual Luncheon
The National Park Service (NPS) will hold its annual Friends’ 17th Recognition Luncheon on Sunday, May 7th at the Liberty House starting at 12:00PM. Honored at the event will be Jeff Tittel, retired Director of NJ Sierra Club, Councilman Frank Gilmore, Jersey City Ward F, Barbara Williams, Jersey City Social Justice and Cultural Arts Advocate and Educator, Danny Burgos, Longtime Friends’ Volunteer and Army Veteran, and Robert Romero, Longtime Friends’ Volunteer. The luncheon will cost $75 in advance and $85 at the door and will help to support the LSP’s mission.
Reproductive Medicine Associates Celebrates Grand Opening of Newest Location
Last week, Reproductive Medicine Associates (RMA) celebrated the official grand opening of its 11th facility, located at 100 Town Square Place, Suite 610, in Jersey City. The event included food, music, and tours of the facility.
In attendance were Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist, Dr. Bat-Sheva Maslow, Dr. Susan Treiser, and Urologist and Male Fertility Specialist Dr. Philip Cheng. RMA in Jersey City is currently accepting new patients and scheduling visits in their new Jersey City Location.
Hudson County Celebrates History + Heritage Month
The Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs celebrates History + Heritage Month in Hudson County by hosting a fun, family-friendly event with live music, face painting, and food, as well as meet + greets with local organizations.
This year, the event will be held on May 6th at the Gallo Center in Lincoln Park from 11:00AM to 2:00PM. More information about the event can be found here.
2nd Annual ‘Through The Windows’ Happening Now
The Hoboken Business Alliance is excited to present ‘Through The Windows,’ the city’s largest outdoor art exhibit in the area. Beginning on May 1st, storefront windows will be transformed with the works of local artists. The city will be decorated through mid-June and will have scannable QR codes to provide viewers with a detailed map and more information on the artists and their work.
‘No Place Like Home’ Experience Happening This Month
“No Place Like Home is a 3-course dinner and dance-theater experience for an audience of 18 that shares stories of love, loss, loneliness, friendship, addiction, and home, ” explained Morgaine Ann DeLeonardis. “On another busy night at the cafe, we follow the dreams, joys, and pains of the owner, her ex-wife, their close friend and regular, a server, and the resident singer for an intimate evening of hospitality, music, dance, theater, and food as we collectively reflect on what is home to us.”
The show, which is directed and choreographed by Morgaine Ann De Leonardis, and a menu prepared by Chef Sean of The Box Cafe in Jersey City Heights. The event will be a BYOB. Tickets for the May 4th and May 10th show, which takes place from 6:30PM to 8:30PM, are on sale now for $75 and will include access to the show and a three-course meal. To purchase a ticket, please email linda@boxcafejc.com.
Steven’s Men’s Volleyball Team Wins NCAA Championship
(Video Credit: Stevens Athletics)
Congratulations are in order for the Steven Ducks as the men’s volleyball team took home the NCAA championship this past weekend for the second time in school history. The No. 2 Men’s team defeated the No. 5 North Central team 3-1.
The team was led by sophomore, Koby Sherman, who had a match-high 16 kills, and senior Connor Feulner, with 9 kills and 5 blocks. Additionally, senior, Percy Bickford had 11 kills while Louden Moran served up 40 assists, leading the Ducks to victory, ending the season with a championship win. New Jersey has two NCAA volleyball championships across all divisions in both men’s and women’s sports and Steven’s Men’s Volleyball has both.
Mayor Fulop + Housing Authority to Bring Affordable Internet to Low-Income Households
The Jersey City Housing Authority () in tandem with EveryoneOn and the City of Jersey City announced a plan to help provide (JCHA) affordable internet to low-income households. A $500k grant from the Federal Communications Commission will help lower the cost of broadband service for low-income families to afford home internet services.
“In our digital inclusion efforts over the last four years, we have learned that face-to-face and often one-on-one support is vital to removing barriers low-income households face in obtaining affordable, high-speed internet, low-cost devices, or gaining essential digital literacy skills,” shared Allison Strobel, Director of Resident Empowerment and Community Engagement at JCHA. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity via this FCC grant to hire, train, and activate digital navigators to promote the ACP and provide direct support to the more than 20,000 Jersey City households who are eligible for the ACP subsidy but have yet to access it.”
For more information or to apply for the program, visit GetACP.org. Additionally, The JCHA is hiring digital navigators and an outreach coordinator for this initiative. Applications can be submitted here.
City Hall Light Fixture Built Entirely by Local Students
Students from HighTech High School and the Mayor + Council of Jersey City met this past Thursday to unveil a 4-foot light fixture that was built entirely by students of the Hudson County School of Technology – High Tech High School.
The fixture was built in an effort to preserve and upgrade the 126-year-old historic city hall building and served as a hands-on learning experience for students. The unveiling ceremony will focus on students as they discuss the work that went into such an important restoration project and the experience it has afforded them.
Councilman DeFusco Drops Out of Election
Councilman Michael DeFusco has officially announced his decision not to run for re-election this upcoming November. The news comes after 13 years of serving the Hoboken community as Zoning Board Commissioner and as a member of the City Council. In his newsletter, DeFusco stated,
“Over the past 13 years, I’ve had the privilege of serving the City of Hoboken, first as a Zoning Board Commissioner and for the past 8 years as your City Councilperson. I’ve grown so much since my first swearing-in at 26 years old, and like many, life has taken me in so many new and exciting directions. Many of you know I work as a media executive in the private sector as my “day job.” Over the past three years, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to grow in my professional career, leading social justice awareness campaigns for a major media brand and being nominated for 7 Emmy Awards.
With my current term nearing its end, I’ve had a lot to think about: what’s best for the City and what’s best for me, personally and professionally. After months of consideration and reflection, I have come to terms with the fact that my current schedule can no longer support both endeavors full-time, without one impacting the other.”
So today, I’m announcing I will not be seeking re-election this November.
Speculation over who will run against Paul Presinzano, who previously ran for the 1st Ward seat against DeFusco in 2021, this upcoming election is still unknown.
Bank of America on Washington St. to Close
The Bank of America branch, located at 615 Washington will be closing this summer. The closing does not come as a surprise as the branch reduced weekday hours and eliminated weekend hours during the pandemic.
One Bank of America location still remains at 1 FIrehouse Plaza (128 Hudson Street.) This is the second bank to close its doors in Hoboken, with the Uptown branch of Kearny Bank closing at the end of June.
Hoboken Farmer’s Market Returns This Summer
(Photo Credit: City of Hoboken)
The Uptown Farmers’ Market will be making its return this summer beginning Saturday, May 6th under the 14th Street Viaduct. This market will take place every Saturday from 9:00AM to 2:00PM through mid-December. This is one of three weekly farmer’s markets in Hoboken.
The Southwest Park Farmer’s Market will take place every Thursday from 3:00PM to 7:00PM starting June 1st on Observer Highway between Jackson Street and Harrison Street.
The Hoboken Farmer’s Market at Church Square Park will make its 27th annual return this summer on Garden Street, between Fourth and Fifth Street every Tuesday from 2:00PM to 7:00PM.
According to the City of Hoboken, “All markets will offer nutritious fruits, vegetables, and other local products. Participating vendors will vary by market, but vendors include Stony Hill Farms, Union Hill Farms, Melick’s Town Farm, Circle Brook Farms, Cotton Cattle, Hoboken Farms, Catch of the Hamptons, Willet’s Own Meats, Pampered Pug, Roger’s Seafood, Picklicious, Choc O Pain, Paolo’s Kitchen, Gourmet Dried Fruits and Nuts, and more.”
Hoboken Public Library To Reopen Renovated 3rd Floor
The Hoboken Public Library is excited to welcome residents back to the newly renovated third floor, which now hosts the Children’s Room + Teen Zone. This effort was thanks in large part to the Hoboken Public Library Friends and Foundation, which supports library programs such as Museum Pass Program, monthly Family FUNdays, and capital improvements through HudsonGives.
In order to prepare for the soft opening, the Children’s Room and Teen Zone will be closed to the public from May 8th through May 10th.
Basketball-Themed Juice Bar Coming to Jersey City
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Triple Double Juice Co, a basketball-themed juice bar from East Orange will be officially coming to Jersey City. Setting up shop at 168 Martin Luther King Drive in the Greenville section of the city, Triple Double Juice Co. will serve up freshly squeezed juices, smoothies, and wellness shots with basketball-themed names such as the Alley Oop Smoothie, the 6th Man, and the Slam Dunk.
The juice bar has not yet announced an opening date but updates will be posted on their Instagram page @triple_double_juice_co.
Mile Square Theatre Presents On The Waterfront, Storytelling + Comedy Show
The Mile Square Theatre will be presenting On The Waterfront storytelling and comedy show Saturday, May 13th at 8:00PM. The show, produced by Jersey City’s own, Adam Wade, is a hilarious and moving show that tells true stories by some of the greatest storytellers out there. Host, Joe Devito (Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing, and The Late Late Show), will be joined by Adam Wade (Inside Amy Schumer, Girls, 20-time Moth Champion), Carla Katz (PBS Stories from the Stage, Moth Radio Hour, Comedy Cellar), Jameer Pond (Vanity Fair, Shorty Award Winner, Moth Champion), Carolyn Castiglia (Comedy Central, MTV Joes Pub), Andrew McGill (Moth Champion, Awkward Teenage Years), and Rory Scholl (Amazon Storytellers, Big Quiz Thing). Tickets can be purchased here.
Hoboken Summer of Fun 2023 Programming
Mayor Bhalla is ready to officially kick off the summer with an expanded itinerary of things to do including Fitness in the Park, Concerts in the Park, Movies Under the Stars, and so much more. The city was proud to have been able to more than double the number of Fitness in the Park classes, which will begin Monday, May 8th at Pier A Park from 7:00PM to 8:00PM. Click here for a full schedule.
The Concerts in the Park series run Mondays (Southwest Resiliency Park), Tuesdays (Shipyard Park), and Thursdays (Sinatra Park). Click here for a full schedule.
Movies Under the Stars will take place every Wednesday in June at Pier A Park, Northwest Resiliency Park, and 7th and Jackson. Screenings begin at 9:00PM in June and July and 8:00PM in August. Bring a blanket, chair, and snacks. Click here for a full schedule.
Mayor Fulop and Veterans Affairs Join Forces to Clean up Pershing Field Park
The Mayor, along with The Department of Health and Human Services and the Division of Veteran Affairs invite the Jersey City community to participate in a day of community service to help clean up Pershing Field Memorial Park. The clean-up will take place on May 6, 2023, and will include several projects to beautify the park and memorial.
This effort will also support the Jersey City Division of Veteran Affairs’ goal of forming a local platoon to serve the city.
“As Memorial Day approaches, it is especially important for us to support the many veterans in our community and beyond. Volunteering for cleanups like this is a great way to engage our veterans alongside residents to experience the benefits and fulfillment of giving back to the community where they live and work,” said Mayor Fulop, a Marine Corps Veteran.
[solidcore] in Hoboken? All Signs Point to Yes.
According to a few sleuthing residents, signage for a [solidcore] pilates studio in Hoboken began to go up in one of the Maxwell Buildings. While we do not have any information regarding the official opening, we can say that it’s only a matter of time.
Under The Boot, Speakeasy, to Open in Jersey City
You may remember Boots + Bones, which opened at 116 Newark Avenue in Jersey City in March. We now have intel that a top-secret speakeasy is now officially open in the basement of Boots + Bones, called Under the Boot.
The speakeasy will operate Thursdays through Sundays with varying hours, typically closing between 2:00AM and 3:00AM, depending on the day. For more information, check out our HG article, here.
511 Newark Street Slated for Demolition
Following the storms last week, the 3-and-a-half-story building, located, at 511 Newark Street, partially collapsed on April 29th. According to TAPinto, that building was already slated to be demolished after being “deemed unsafe by the City’s Construction Code Official.” Official plans for the construction of a new building have not yet been solidified.
Snap Fitness is Officially Underway in Jersey City
Construction for Snap Fitness, a 24/7 fitness studio, is officially underway at 139 Brunswick Street. Located at The Oasis, a brand-new development in Jersey City, the fitness center will have state-of-the-art fitness equipment, personal training spaces, and other amenities to make for a great workout experience such as showers, saunas, and virtual training sessions. Snap Fitness is expected to open later this year.
