After its inaugural event last year, Hoboken non-profit Computers 4 People is bringing its Hoboken Pepper Fest back to the Mile Square. On Saturday, October 5th, locals will have the chance to put their spice tolerances to the test in addition to enjoying live music performances, games, and other food and drinks. All proceeds from the event will benefit Computers 4 People, which aims to limit e-waste and combat inequities in technology access. Read on for more about the 2nd annual Hoboken Pepper Fest happening this weekend, a fundraiser to benefit Computers 4 People.
The Event
The Hoboken Pepper Fest is slated to happen on Saturday, October 5th from 1PM-5PM at 524 Willow Avenue. Per the website, the event promises a thrilling festival and a pepper-eating competition, among other things. What exactly does a “pepper fest” entail, you ask? It’s a hot chili eating contest that can go up to 20 rounds that only the most spice-tolerant person could survive. Kind of like the Hot Wings YouTube series, but with Hoboken locals and chili peppers instead of celebrities and chicken wings.
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Here’s how it works: the festival starts at 1PM, and the contest starts at 3PM. There are up to 20 rounds, and in each round, contestants will need to eat and swallow an entire chili pepper without drinking water or milk. The chili peppers will increase in heat each round. The last standing contestant wins a prize of $500, with the second-place winner receiving $250, and the third-place receiving $100. It’s $50 to enter the contest, and those bold enough can register for it here. Tickets for the contest are limited to 30 people.
In addition to chili pepper-eating, the Hoboken Pepper Fest also features a lineup of live music performances, family-friendly games, and other food and drink that won’t singe your tastebuds. General admission tickets to the event are $20. All proceeds from the festival go towards Computers 4 People’s programs. Tickets can be purchased here.
About Computers 4 People
Computers 4 People was started by Hoboken resident Dylan Zajac, who became aware of extreme discrepancies in technology access at a young age — 15, to be exact. The organization refurbishes used or old computers (e-waste) and donates them to people and communities in need. To date, Computers 4 People has donated 3,096 computers, reused 46,538 pounds of e-waste, and provided over a million hours of internet to under-resourced communities in New Jersey, New York City, and beyond. The Hoboken Girl has chatted with Dylan previously about his incredible work in the technology space, and you can read all about it here.
See More: Organizations + Non-Profits to Give Back to in Montclair
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Hoboken PATH Station Fully Closing for 25 Days Starting 1/30
Hoboken's PATH station, located at 1 Hudson Place, will fully close in early 2025 for various repairs. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) announced the news on October 31st, 2024 saying that the station will close to complete critical track + switch upgrades and station rehabilitation work as a part of the two-year PATH Forward program. The closure will take place from late evening on Thursday, January 30th, 2025 through early morning on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025. Read on for what we know about the upcoming Hoboken PATH station closure.
The Details
The PANYNJ announced via a press release on Thursday, October 31st, 2024 that the Hoboken PATH station will be closed from 11:59PM on Thursday, January 30th, 2025 through 5AM on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025, as part of the agency’s two-year, $430 million PATH Forward program that will see the rehabilitation of four major stations: Hoboken, Grove Street, Newport, and Exchange Place.
During the closure, the Port Authority will carry out critical safety repairs and improvements across several elements of the 116-year-old system. The full station closure enables the PANYNJ to complete track and station work on an expedited basis that would otherwise necessitate severe schedule reductions and service suspensions repetitively over a prolonged period.
Track and station work will include the following:
- Replacement of Hoboken Interlocking + tracks: PATH will replace in-station tracks and the Hoboken Interlocking, the intricate system of tracks and switches that allows all service from two tunnels to access three tracks at the Hoboken station. The press release noted that without the continuous 25-day outage, this work by itself would require four complete weekend shutdowns due to the scale and location of the interlocking, and an additional 50 consecutive days of significantly reduced service levels in and out of Hoboken due to the reduction in station track capacity required to maintain safe operations during the construction.
- Track repair + maintenance work: PATH will repair 4,500 linear feet of track in the two tunnels leading into the station. The continuous 25-day outage prevents a full year of weekend service reductions that would otherwise be required to complete the work.
- Restoration of passenger infrastructure: PATH will replace the concrete walking surfaces in public areas throughout the station and replace four staircases between the station’s mezzanine and platform levels. Performing the most disruptive work during the outage will reduce a 28-weekend timeline of disruption to customers (selective closures, rerouting of passengers, etc.) at Hoboken. The Port Authority coordinated the rehabilitation with the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office and the Hoboken Historic Preservation Commission.
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The PANYNJ noted that outside consultants and experts identified the full station closure as the best option to simultaneously complete the three projects, and planned the closure for a time of year that traditionally sees lower daily ridership levels.
“This closure will undoubtedly pose challenges for Hoboken riders, and we recognize the impact it will have on their daily routines,” Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said in a press release. “The PATH system is a vital connection in our region, and this work is crucial to ensuring it remains safe, reliable, and efficient for the thousands who depend on it every day. We appreciate the patience and understanding of our riders as we work to strengthen this essential infrastructure.”
“PATH is continually striving to create the best possible travel experience for our customers,” PATH Director/General Manager Clarelle DeGraffe said in a press release. “We recognize the inconvenience our customers will experience during this period of essential infrastructure and station rehabilitation, and we appreciate their patience and understanding as we work to make this 116-year-old rail network more reliable.”
Travel Alternatives During the Closure
Travel alternatives during the closure will include expanded + discounted ferry service, frequent shuttle buses to other PATH stations, and supplemental PATH, light rail, and NJ TRANSIT bus service between Hoboken and Manhattan. PANYNJ noted that customers still may experience crowing and lines, and encouraged travelers to consider making alternative arrangements around work hours and locations if possible. All alternative travel options are ADA-accessible.
Travel alternatives include the following:
Cross-Honored Ferry Service
- Additional peak period service departing every 10 minutes from both Hoboken ferry terminals, the PATH/NJ TRANSIT station terminal and the 14th Street terminal, with service to Manhattan’s Brookfield Place/Battery Park City terminal and Midtown/West 39th Street terminal.
- Expanded NY Waterway crosstown bus service from Midtown/West 39th Street terminal.
- Extended operating hours until 10PM on weekdays and 12AM on weekends at both Hoboken terminals.
- Additional weekend route, providing service to Midtown/West 39th Street from both Hoboken terminals.
- Ferry fares will also be reduced to $3 for the entirety of the closure — more information can be found here.
Free PATH Shuttle Bus Service
- Frequent shuttle buses connecting Hoboken riders to continuing PATH service at Newport and Exchange Place stations.
Supplemental Bus Service to Enhance NJ TRANSIT’s No. 126 Line
- NJ TRANSIT will increase the frequency of the No. 126 bus, connecting Hoboken station with the Midtown Bus Terminal.
Supplemental PATH Service
- Additional PATH trains are planned to serve expected additional passengers at the Newport and Exchange Place stations to and from the World Trade Center and 33 Street Stations. The additional service will result in trains arriving at Newport every two to four minutes, and trains arriving at Exchange Place every five minutes or less during rush hours.
Supplemental NJ TRANSIT Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Service
- NJ TRANSIT will provide additional service on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail weekdays between 6AM-10AM and 3PM-7PM, connecting riders to and from continuing PATH service at Newport and Exchange Place.
Additional details on schedules, service frequencies, and fares can be found on the project website.
Information Sessions
The PANYNJ also organized several informational sessions, both in-person and virtual, ahead of the closure. Public information sessions were held on:
- Tuesday, November 12th at 5:30PM — Hoboken Terminal Waiting Room, 1 Hudson Place, Hoboken
- Wednesday, November 13th at 5:30PM — PATH Exchange Place Station, 2 Exchange Place, Jersey City
- Tuesday, December 10th at 6PM (virtual)
Other PATH Updates
Through the end of 2024, work continued between Journal Square and Harrison stations, necessitating adjusted service levels on most weekends between those stations. Trains will run every 40 minutes on weekends as outlined on the PATH Forward website. PATH is replacing 6,000 feet of track and installing an additional interlocking system, which will improve operational flexibility and reduce the impact of delays on passengers. This new interlocking will enable PATH trains to bypass disabled trains west of Journal Square, allowing for a quicker resumption of service on the Newark-World Trade Center line. Additionally, PATH is completing a sea wall along the Passaic River that will protect the system from future flooding.
The program began with rehabilitation work at the Grove Street station in 2024, replacing floor tiles, patching and repainting work, refinishing platform columns, and installing LED lighting and electrical wiring.
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To stay up to date, riders are strongly encouraged to use the RidePATH app, visit the project site specific to the Hoboken closure, visit the PATH Forward website for information on the overall PATH Forward program, sign up for alerts, and follow PATH on social media.
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