As the hot weather winds down, there’s no shortage of stuff going on. In fact, it’s ramping up! Last week we reported that Jersey City adopted e-scooter legislation, introduced you to the Mile Square’s latest coffee shop Little Local, and of course, served up some Virgo SZN realness.
This week, there’s so much more to cover. First and foremost, did you know Jersey City has its own female Marvel superhero? Yeah, and she’s getting her own television series on Disney. What else? Hoboken is following in Jersey City’s footsteps and finalizing plans for a medical marijuana dispensary and we offer a local update on that terrifying algae bloom that’s affecting New York City parks. All that and more below. Keep reading for all the headlines you missed in Hoboken and Jersey City this week.
Hoboken Arts & Music Festival Announces an Official Date
This year’s Hoboken Art & Music Festival has officially announced a date, so get ready Mile Square, it’s all happening on Washington Street on September 29. From 11 AM to 6 PM, festival-goers can walk down Washington Street {which will be closed off to cars}, listening to local music acts, eating good food, and of course, checking out some of the local art culture. This year’s sponsors include New Jersey Lottery, Suez, VisitNJ.org, WFUV 90.7, and a grant from the NJ Department of State Divison of Travel and Tourism. See you there!
Jersey City’s Ms. Marvel Superhero Getting Her Own Series
{Photo credit: Twitter}
Did you know Jersey City has a superhero? Actually, there is more than one, but the one we are celebrating today is Ms. Marvel, AKA Kamala Khan who protects the streets of Jersey City after being exposed to ancient alien mist. Ms. Marvel’s powers include the ability to change the size and shape of her body, something Marvel Comics calls “embiggening power.” Now that you’ve got the necessary background on Ms. Marvel, you should know that the JC superhero is starring in her own show on Disney Plus and is later expected to participate in Marvel’s films.
“You will meet [Ms. Marvel] in our series, then see her in our films,” Kevin Feige, president of Marvel Studios, said at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, California.
Ms. Marvel’s background goes as far back as 1976, but this character was introduced as Marvel’s first Muslim character to lead a comic book in 2014. The new character is the brainchild of Writer G. Willow Wilson and artist Adrian Alphona and Ms. Marvel’s — AKA Kamala Khan’s — parents are immigrants from Pakistan.
Disney Plus is a new streaming service to set to launch on November 12th and Ms. Marvel will be Marvel’s first live-action series.
Hoboken Following JC’s Suit and Getting a Dispensary
Earlier in August, Hoboken Girl reported that Jersey City was preparing for its first-ever medical marijuana dispensary. Now, weeks later, it looks like Hoboken is prepping for its own dispensary as well.
Harmony Dispensary — an already established dispensary company based out of Secaucus — is proposed to take over 95 Hudson Street. Harmony submitted an application to Hoboken’s City planning board, asking to make the location into their second medical marijuana dispensary in the State of New Jersey. The space is 5,000+ square feet and according to Jersey Digs, was a series of doctor’s offices.
Vacant Lot in Jersey City Goes for $65 Million
{Photo from Google Maps Streetview}
A vacant lot in downtown Jersey City has been purchased by Mack-Cali Realty Corporation for $65 million. Mack-Cali apparently has plans to turn 107 Morgan Street in Ward E of JC into part of its “waterfront strategy,” transforming it into a building with 804 units.
Once used by Little Man Parking, the property at 107 Morgan Street stretches along Warren to Steuben Street. Recently, Mack-Cali has been purchasing and renovating a string of local properties. These include redevelopment plans for Harborside and Mack-Cali’s efforts to acquire the Liberty Towers in Jersey City.
Northwest Pop-Up Will Become Permanent Park With Ice Rink
{Image rendering by OLIM from Jersey Digs}
Hoboken’s Northwest Pop-Up park will be temporarily shut down in order to turn it from a pop-up to a permanent park complete with an ice rink. According to new signage at the site at 12th Street and Adams, the pop-up will close September 9th to accommodate construction for the permanent park. The permanent park will not only feature an ice skating rink but also a pavilion where park-goers can gather + eat and athletic fields.
According to an official statement from the City of Hoboken, the park will provide necessary and critical infrastructure that will help in Hoboken’s efforts to prevent flooding in addition to providing a safe and fun space for families and children.
An official statement from the City of Hoboken reads:
“The permanent Northwest Resiliency Park will… include above ground green infrastructure and a flood detention system underground. The park will have the capacity to withhold up to 2 million gallons of rainwater during storms. In addition, the park will include a lawn area, ice skating rink, pavilion and shade canopy, multi-purpose athletic field, play valley and fitness loop, and more.”
The pop-up version of the park opened in July 2017 and featured a life-size chess board, playground, tennis courts, a rock-climbing structure, and a picnic area. The park also closed from Tuesday, August 26th to Thursday, August 28th in preparation for construction. According to the city, Northwest Park is expected to be finished in 2022.
Little Linguists Day Care Celebrates Ribbon-Cutting and Opening
{Photo credit: @littlelinguistshoboken}
Little Linguists, a daycare center in Hoboken, is officially celebrating its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 9th at 10:00AM. Members of the community expected to attend include Mayor Ravi Bhalla, Council at large, the HoLa school founder and director, CEO of Big Brothers and Sisters Little Hoboken, and more. Congrats on the opening!
Mayor Bhalla Releases Statement on Future of Hoboken Ferry
Mayor Bhalla has released a statement regarding the future of ferry operations in Hoboken. Since New York Waterway has threatened to no longer operate in Hoboken as a result of the ongoing Union Dry Dock controversy {read about it more in-depth here}, Bhalla wants Hoboken residents to know that there is a Plan B in place.
“This afternoon, I had a very productive conversation with the leadership of one of the region’s leading ferry operators,” said Bhalla’s official statement. “They assured me that if New York Waterway chose to no longer operate in Hoboken as they have threatened to do on numerous occasions, this ferry company would be willing to go through the process of becoming Hoboken’s ferry operator. This conversation is the latest proof that a ‘transportation crisis,’ as manufactured by New York Waterway, is nothing more than a blatant lie and intimidation tactic.”
Bhalla continued, “I remain committed to both preserving the Union Dry Dock site for a public park, while also working with a ferry operator to provide safe, reliable and efficient transportation for our residents.”
Nesh’s Mediterranean Is Now Open in the Heights
Looking for Mediterranean food in the Heights? Nesh’s Mediterranean Grocery & Deli is now open at 489 Central Avenue in Jersey City. While there’s not much yet available on Yelp, Nesh’s opened last week and is a Mediterranean marketplace where buyers can find Egyptian rice, grape leaves, dried chickpeas, and more.
Ultramarinos Permanently Closes on Third Street
Ultramarinos — a local eatery featuring signature Latin dishes and baked goods — has permanently closed in the Mile Square. Located at 260 3rd Street in Hoboken, Ultramarinos offered both savory and sweet options, serving everything from decadent desserts to empanadas, tamales, and ham croquettes. Self-dubbed “The Marketplace for Latin Kitchen Magic,” it appears the former restaurant’s Instagram account has been taken down. No word yet on what is slated to replace it. The owners still operate Zafra and Cucharamama.
Jersey City Is Building as Many Apartments as New York City
{Photo courtesy of RentCafé}
Jersey City is neck-in-neck with Manhattan in the race to build apartments. According to new data from the most recent Rent Café report, Jersey City has undergone massive development this year with plans to deliver 2,111 total apartments. It’s right up there with Manhattan’s efforts, which culminate in 2,143 new apartments this year.
Other New Jersey areas to note include Bayonne, where 663 new units will enter the market in 2019. Hackensack added 488 units this year, while New Brunswick is settling around 388 units this year.
Hoboken Signs Executive Order to Make ‘Vision Zero’ a Reality
{Photo courtesy of Vijay Chaudhuri}
As of Wednesday, August 28th, Mayor Bhalla has signed an executive order to officially launch Hoboken’s Vision Zero pedestrian safety campaign. Hoboken’s Vision Zero campaign seeks to achieve zero pedestrian injuries or fatalities by the year 2030. Other Vision Zero campaigns have been launched in cities across the U.S., including Jersey City and New York City. Bhalla was joined by Hoboken’s Vision Zero task force, community advocates, and Chris Adair, President of Bike Hoboken.
Mayor Bhalla said, “Hoboken is proud to launch the most ambitious Vision Zero campaign in the tristate region. As one of the most walkable cities in the entire country, we can, and we must do more to make our streets safer for our residents and children. Eliminating traffic-related injuries and deaths will involve a collaborative approach with all of our residents and stakeholders, and I look forward to working with our community as we create a stronger and safer Hoboken for everyone.”
Adair also made a statement following the signing of the executive order. “Bike Hoboken is thrilled at the formal adoption of Vision Zero by the City of Hoboken,” Adair said. “We are grateful for Mayor Bhalla’s determination to make streets safer and improve mobility for everyone in our mile square. The philosophy of Vision Zero is fundamentally a declaration that mistakes should not be fatal, that nobody deserves to die because of their abilities or choice in transportation.”
Adair continued, “We are excited to join our neighbors in Jersey City and New York with this vision and look forward to the specific policies and street designs that will embody it.”
Toxic Algae That Can Kill Dogs Found in New York City
Following the news that toxic algae that can kill dogs was found in three New York City parks, Hoboken residents want to know if they have to worry. Understandably. Hoboken Girl reached out to Jennifer Gonazalez, Director of Environmental Services and Chief Sustainability Officer, who said at this time, no algae has been found in Mile Square parks.
In an email, Gonzalez said, “We haven’t seen any algae in our parks, but if we did we would test it and educate the community. As a dog owner, it’s certainly scary, but we will continue to monitor our water for any signs of issues.”
According to the original New York Times article, the green-blue blooms were found in Central Park, Morningside, and Prospect Park. The toxic algae bloom’s origins go back to New Jersey’s largest lake — Lake Hopatcong — and appeared back in June.
Hoboken PD Needs Help Identifying a Gunman
Police are requesting the help of the public in identifying a gunman who opened fire on a man last week. The incident occurred on Harrison Street on August 19th at about 10:00PM. Police responded to reports of shots being fired.
The male victim survived and was not injured, but told police that a man approached him and fired several times at him. The gunman was apparently last seen running south along Harrison.
Police are requesting if anyone recognizes the man in the above to photos taken from security cameras, to please contact them with information. You can do so by contacting Detective Paul Quinn at 201-420-2111, extension 3031 or Sgt. William Collins at 201-420-3030.
Fios News Channel Shutting Down in November, Leaving Hudson County with One Less News Provider
That’s right, Hudson County is losing a news station. On November 16th, Fios News Channel will be shutting down for good, according to Hudson Reporter. The local news channel broadcast primarily New Jersey-focused news to a multitude of cable subscribers. With this news {pun intended}, however, the only Garden State-exclusive news channel will be News12.
Village Pourhouse to Rebrand as “The Inn”
The Village Pourhouse at 205 1st Street in Hoboken started as a spinoff of a New York City mini-chain, offering your average sports-bar fare and of course, no shortage of pours. {Hence the name.} But speaking of the name, VP is actually undergoing some remodeling and a name change is part of the bill. Hoboken Girl has learned that Village Pourhouse will be turning into “The Inn.” We can also say that it will remain under the same ownership. This info comes after long-time rumors that VP was closing down for good.
Asbury Ale House is Planning to Open a Location in Jersey City
Asbury Park’s Asbury Ale House is planning to open a new location in Jersey City, according to Jersey Digs. The ale house’s newest installment will is expected to call the Newark Avenue Pedestrian Mall home at 143 Newark Avenue. The Ale House itself is known down the shore is known to be a lively hangout with a variety of beers on tap. Stay tuned for more information on this upcoming JC opening.
The Winston Is Changing Names, Going Irish
Known as a cocktail bar with “a great vibe,” $15 White Claw buckets, and of course, one of the only remaining speakeasies in Hudson County, The Winston is changing things up. Located at 72 Hudson Street and inspired by Winston Churchill, new signage at The Winston suggests it will become”The Ugly Irishman.” Hoboken Girl sources confirm that under the new revamp, Mike Citarella — owner of Pig & Parrot, located a few steps away at 77 Hudson Street — will come on board as a new partner for The Ugly Irishman.
La Dolce Vita Opens in Jersey City
{Photo credit: @ladolcevitajc}
Jersey City has a new restaurant in town and it’s called La Dolce Vita. Jersey Digs reported that this Italian restaurant opened at 398 Central Avenue in the Jersey City Heights and will be serving up Italian classics like homemade lasagna, mushroom-stuffed ravioli, the tomato, shrimp, and avocado bruschetta pictured above, and more. The new eatery joins the likes of Roman Nose, GP’s Hamilton Park, and more for Italian fare in JC.
Transformer on Willow Avenue Explodes While Firefighters Attempt to Extinguish the Fire
{Photo credit: reddit}
While several firefighters attempted to put out a fire on a transformer pole in Hoboken earlier this week, the transformer exploded and a nearby bystander caught the whole thing on video. You can view the full video here, which after showing the explosion, replays the same explosion back in slow-motion. The explosion occurred on Willow Avenue and happened during firefighters’ efforts to deescalate the fire.
Cooper’s Union Under New Ownership
{Photo credit: Google Maps streeview}
Cooper’s Union, a small tavern with an outdoor patio area on 104 Hudson Street, will be undergoing new ownership. Cooper’s, located next to the Hoboken Police Headquarters, has been taken over by Hoboken Hospitality group. No word yet on what’s in store given the new ownership.
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