A week of life in Hoboken + Jersey City means there is plenty of news to catch up on. Among the local headlines: actor Jesse Eisenburg was spotted at Hoboken’s Tosti Cafe, a new vegan-friendly restaurant opened in Jersey City, a local artist launched a new installation across Hoboken, and so much more. Keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Hoboken, Jersey City, + beyond.
Hoboken Ragamuffin Halloween Parade Returning in 2021
View this post on Instagram
The Hoboken Ragamuffin Halloween Parade has been a tradition since the 1960s and will return after its 2020 pandemic hiatus, reported Patch. On October 31st, participants should start lining up near 13th Street at 10:15AM, before the 11AM march begins.
The Cookie Connect Now Open in Hoboken
View this post on Instagram
The Cookie Connect is officially open in Hoboken at 305 1st Street. The Instagram-worthy cookie shop also sells 20 oz cookie sundaes using its unique cookie flavors. The menu features flavors like Nutella, salted caramel pretzel, “mounds” of coconut, apple pie, and NYC cheesecake.
Rumble Boxing to Open in Hoboken
View this post on Instagram
Popular fitness gym, Rumble Boxing is opening in Hoboken at 1202 Shipyard Lane. Rumble is known for its 45-minute instructor-led boxing, HIIT, Metcon, and strength classes that feature hip-hop and house mash-ups to get members motivated and moving during workout sessions or solo workout time. The brand prides itself on being an “authentic, powerful, and fun” workout experience. Click here to read more about Rumble Boxing, opening soon.
Gino’s Barbershop in Hoboken Closing
View this post on Instagram
A staple in Hoboken for decades, Gino’s Barbershop has officially closed following Nick’s retirement, according to Patch. Nick started working at Gino’s Barbershop the year before he graduated from Hoboken High School in 1963.
5th Annual Hoboken Pizza Fest Announced for November
View this post on Instagram
The 5th Annual Hoboken Pizza Fest has been announced for November 13th, taking place from 1PM to 5PM. Tickets are $30 and include access to the best pizza in Hoboken. The event page says, “This year we’re bringing back the “crawl” format (think bar crawl, but for PIZZA ), so round up your crew, grab your family, and get ready to take a tour around Hoboken to sample pizza from some of the best spots in town – or dare we say New Jersey?” Tickets are available now.
New Vietnamese Restaurant, Bon Banh, Opening in Hoboken
There is a new Vietnamese restaurant coming to Hoboken this winter. The fast-food eatery Bon Banh is taking over Stacks Pancake House at 506 Washington Street. Although it’s still in its preliminary stages, Hoboken Girl has learned exclusive details of what customers can expect upon opening.
The name of the restaurant has some significance. “Bon” means “good” in French and “Banh” comes from the popular Vietnamese food, Banh Mi sandwich, which is usually served on a baguette. The name was coined by the owners Tony Kim and Kathy Kim, who told Hoboken Girl, “Vietnamese food is influenced very heavily by the French culture so we thought it tied in nicely with the restaurant.”
Actor Jesse Eisenburg Spotted at Hoboken’s Tosti Cafe
View this post on Instagram
Actor Jesse Eisenburg, known for his roles in “Zombieland”, “Social Network”, and “Now You See Me”, was spotted at Tosti Cafe in Hoboken. The cafe shared a picture via Instagram. No further information is known as to why he is in the area. Tosti Cafe is located at 1024 Washington Street.
The 7th Annual HG Fall Photo Contest is Live on Instagram
To commemorate the season’s beauty and living locally, Hoboken Girl readers are invited to join Hoboken Girl’s 7th Annual Fall Instagram PhotoContest, #FallinLovewithHoboken. This is your month to enter and win amazing prizes from 12 local businesses by posting your favorite things about Hoboken and Jersey City in the fall on Instagram. Click here to read all about our fall photo contest, how to enter, and some past inspo to #FallinLoveWithHoboken.
Fashion Vlogger Laura Beverlin Announces Electric Picks Collab
View this post on Instagram
Fashion vlogger and Instagram influencer, Laura Beverlin has been in Hoboken this week, working on a collaboration with local jewelry shop, Electric Picks. She posted, “Pinch me—is this real life?? Today has been so surreal watching my designs come to life @electricpicks. We spent the day exploring Hoboken and soaking up the beautiful fall weather. Marky and I got to meet so many of y’all around town today.”
Soccer Tournament Fundraiser to Support Grieving Hoboken Family
Hoboken resident, Tadhg Ó Fátharta unexpectedly passed away on Tuesday, September 21, leaving behind his wife and two young children. To help them during this difficult time, friends have organized a soccer tournament as a fundraiser. The tournament will be held on Saturday, November 27th at Sinatra Field in Hoboken beginning at 9AM. Participants must register to play.
Brooklyn Dumpling Shop Opening in Hoboken
View this post on Instagram
Brooklyn Dumpling Shop is getting closer to opening its Hoboken location, according to Instagram. The first location at 1st Avenue in Manhattan opened earlier this year and now the business is already expanding to a second location in Hoboken at 514 Washington Street and will be run by a partner, Nickesh Desai. The Brooklyn Dumpling shop, as its name suggests, will specialize in dumplings — with 32 flavors to choose from.
Hoboken Mom + Business Owner Helps Raise Breast Cancer Flag at City Hall
View this post on Instagram
Local business owner Tamara Soru of Little Play Co. helped raise a flag at Hoboken City Hall for Breast Cancer Awareness. She shared her thoughts on the event saying, “I don’t have words to describe what it meant to me this morning to have all of my favorite people come out to support me as I was honored to raise the Breast Cancer flag at City Hall. It has been quite a journey and I am forever grateful for the love and support and kindness of all of these and so many other humans in this amazing little city!”
Community Asked to Photograph and Report Migratory Bats in Hoboken
View this post on Instagram
The New Jersey Endangered and Non-Game Species Program (ENSP) has three nanotags remaining to attach to bats as a part of its fall bat migration study. The @newjerseyfishandwildlife account asked, “If you spot one of these bats, please take a photo and email it with the bat’s location to MacKenzie.Hall@dep.nj.gov. Please do not disturb or touch any bats you may come across.”
City Hall Annex Now Open in Jersey City
On Friday, October 15th at 10AM, City Hall in Jersey City officially opened the new annex located on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, per a press release. The City’s most community-driven services will be more accessible from the new municipal campus.
Hoots Wings Coming to Newport Tower in Jersey City
View this post on Instagram
This week the @jcfamilies account announced the arrival of a new restaurant to Newport Tower. The post reads, “Popular chicken wing eatery @hootswings is coming to Jersey City at 525 Washington Boulevard with plans to open in November of 2021. They specialize in chicken wings, sandwiches, salads and more!”
Sangria Hoboken Now Open on Jackson Street
View this post on Instagram
The new Spanish restaurant, Sangria Hoboken, announced its grand opening this week via Instagram. The post reads, “For all of you who have been patiently waiting for the opening of the new, modern Spaniard restaurant in Hoboken, New Jersey, we are officially open today (Wednesday) at 4PM!” The menu features sangrias, Spanish beers, seafood dishes, tapas, and brunch. The restaurant is located at 800 Jackson Street.
Hoboken Candidates Continue Fundraising as November Elections Approach
Local elections will be held in November which means candidates are continuing to fundraise and promote their agendas. Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla will be running unopposed in the upcoming election and only raised just over $10K in the third quarter, but the Bhalla team is in possession of $171k cash on hand, Hudson County View reports. Each candidate running for office files financial reports which are available to the public. Click here for the details.
Hoboken City Council Debate at Elks Club Announced
The Hoboken City Council debate will take place on Thursday, October 21, at 7:30PM at the Elks Club, according to NJ.com. There will be both a live audience and an online broadcast. Audience members are encouraged to show up early, be vaccinated, and wear a mask. The Elks Club is located at 1005 Washington Street.
Hoboken Launches New Arts Project for City Benches
View this post on Instagram
You might come across pigeons doing “decidedly non-pigeon activities” around Hoboken this fall. These pigeons, made of spray-painted foam board, are the brain-child of local artist Greg Brehm, who painted the mural “Home Sweet Hoboken” last year. These pigeons will pay homage to significant people, cultures, and events in Hoboken history. The location of each bird is available via the interactive map. Click here to read more about the city-wide installations.
New NJ Portal Bridge to Streamline Commute
The NJ Portal Bridge, which is known for malfunctioning and delaying thousands of commuters, will now be replaced using a $1.5B contract from NJ Transit’s board, reported NJ.com. As part of the larger Gateway Project, this replacement will give commuters what they have been requesting for over a decade. Construction should start within a few months.
Murphy Waiting to Allocate COVID-19 Relief Fund
The American Rescue Plan Act allocated $6B to New Jersey as a form of relief from the COVID-19 pandemic, which local officials are deciding how to spend, according to NJ Spotlight News. At this point, about one-third of the funds have been used while circumstances are being reviewed before spending the remainder. By law, New Jersey has until the end of 2024 to obligate the balance of its federal aid, and even longer to spend it. And federal officials have made it clear they want the COVID-19 relief to sustain long-term recovery from the still-ongoing pandemic.
New Jersey COVID-19 Update: Cases Are on the Decline
According to recent reports, the average number of new positive cases of COVID-19 is on the decline, per NJ.com. Since last month, the number has dropped 21%, and 12% since last week. This week, there were 6 deaths caused by COVID-19, and 854 new cases.
Grant Funds Allocated to Upgrade HVAC in Schools + Small Businesses
The New Jersey Public Board of Utilities has allocated $180 million of federal funding to repair school and business HVAC systems across the state, according to New Jersey 101.5. Underserved communities will receive $135 million as part of this conservation and safety initiative.
Jersey City Solid Waste Facility Cited for Contamination Risk
Across the state, officials have filed seven new actions against unsafe waste facilities, including a Jersey City solid waste facility, reported Patch. A 40-foot-high stockpile of crushed glass and other solid waste was found on-site at the facility operated by Pace Glass, Inc., which allegedly has been contaminating storm-water runoff and endangering the environment and public health.
Waterfront Sculpture Unveiling 10/21 in Newport
Jaume Plensa will unveil a new 80-foot sculpture that overlooks the Hudson River, per CBSNewYork. The statue, called “Water’s Soul,” depicts a woman holding a finger to her lips and should inspire silent self-reflection, according to the artist. The massive sculpture will be unveiled on Thursday, October 21st at the dedication ceremony.
Jersey City Police Search for Missing Person Under Hudson River Pier
A missing person was last seen on Sunday, October 3rd underneath a Hudson River pier in Jersey City, reported News12. The Jersey City police got a call from someone at the Pier Village Apartments nearby who saw the person in the water. A scaled-back search continued through Sunday night in search of the individual.
New Vegan-Friendly Cafe Opens in Downtown Jersey City
View this post on Instagram
More health and animal-conscious restaurants and cafes are opening in Jersey City. The Power Plant by Boycemode is opening at Base Health Club, a luxury health club and spa, located at 60 Christopher Columbus Drive. Click here for what we know about the cafe and its owner.
New Taco Bell Location Coming to Jersey City
Jersey City is home to quite a few taco restaurants, many being locally-owned and operated, but once in a while a chain swoops in and adds to the scene. Taco Bell will be expanding to a third location in Jersey City, this time in the downtown area. Click here to read more about the new location.
Jersey City School Highlights Indigenous Culture on Columbus Day
On Monday, October 4th students around the country had the school day off for Columbus Day, but the Learning Community Charter School decided to celebrate the day differently, according to NJ.com. The day was focused on learning about Indigenous Peoples’ culture and how it has contributed to the county. According to the Head of School, Colin Hogan, having school on the holiday would help “students understand the nuances of both Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the context of our local, state, national and global communities.”
The Hoboken Coffee Festival Slated for November
The Hoboken Coffee Festival will take place at the Hoboken Historical Museum walkway on November 7, from 11AM – 4:30PM, according to the Hoboken Historical Museum. You can try local brews and attend talks and demonstrations about the art and culture behind “brewing the perfect cup.” Tickets are $10, available on the museum website.
Head of Tessa International in Hoboken Revives Initiative to Help Children Cope with COVID-19 Loss
View this post on Instagram
Kathleen Visconti, Head of Tessa International School, revived her 9/11 initiative to help children grieving from COVID-19 losses, according to a press release. In 2001, Visconti’s friend lost her husband in the attack on the Twin Towers, so she was inspired to create a memory book to help her friend’s children and others dealing with loss.
Now, 20 years after 9/11, the books are being redistributed and Tessa International is reaching out to other schools to help those struggling with the loss associated with COVID-19.
Hoboken Quality of Life Coalition Hosting Candidates’ Forums in North Bergen and Online
View this post on Instagram
The Hoboken Quality of Life Coalition has announced the date for the 2021 candidates’ forums, according to a press release. On Friday, October 22nd, candidates will answer questions from the public at the Hudson Media Group in North Bergen. The event will also be streamed online. The forums for the three seats will be divided into two sessions, starting at 5:30PM and 8PM.
Hoboken Resident, Founder of UnmaskedMotherhood, Writes Children’s Book
View this post on Instagram
Megan Levy, founder of UnmaskedMotherhood, wrote a short children’s book for children and caretakers. In a few weeks, it will be available online and at Little City Books and The Hive in Hoboken. You can find more information about the book and its illustrator on Levy’s website.
Terrapin Approved to Open Medical Marijuana Dispensary in Hoboken
Hoboken officials made a historic approval for Terrapin to open a medical marijuana dispensary at 86 River Street, according to a press release. As part of the medical marijuana licensing process, the Hoboken Planning Board conducted four years of local outreach. Chris Woods, owner and CEO of Terrapin said, “We look forward to serving the community as responsible corporate citizens in meeting the demands of cannabis patients while leaving a positive community impact.”
