Less than a month after Hoboken was given a perfect score from the Human Rights Campaign {HRC} Municipal Equality Index {MEI} in relation to its LGBTQ+ laws and policies {for the second year in a row!}, a new LGBTQ+ piano bar is calling Jersey City home.
With the Mile Square and Jersey City positioned as two of the most LGBTQ+ friendly areas locally, it’s no wonder that Pianist Envy saw an opportunity in downtown Paulus Hook to turn a space that’s been redeveloped several times into a hot-spot with happy hour specials, a welcoming and inclusive environment, and of course, live piano performances. Keep reading to learn more about Pianist Envy, a new LGBTQ+ piano bar at 100 York Street.
{Photo credit: @pianistenvynj}
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What to Expect
Although already soft-opened at 100 York Street, Pianist Envy will be celebrating its official grand opening on Thursday, December 19th. The owners and team — which includes Elene Food Group and owner Michael Billy — behind Pianist Envy transformed the former Los Dos location into part-piano bar, part-restaurant with gastropub-esque bar-fare and full-menu dinner options.
Of course, we can’t forget the massive emphasis Pianist Envy will put on music. If you think this is just another piano bar that only takes Billy Joel requests after 11:00PM — think again. Pianist Envy will feature a talented line-up of waitstaff who will not only take your order and bring your food but will also sing as they do so.
“As a local, I wanted to celebrate our vibrant local performing artist scene and our LGBTQ+ Community,” said Billy. “Queer piano bars are a rich part of history that have brought our communities together in song for decades. I’m so proud to bring a piece of that history to Jersey City.”
The Background: 100 York Street
{Photo credit: Google Maps}
The location, 100 York Street, has seen several reiterations of different businesses in the past few years. Let’s start with its most recent endeavor: Los Dos.
Regulars of the once Los Dos will remember the Mexican restaurant for its small and welcoming cantina vibe, shared family-style plates, and of course, the Mahi Mahi tacos. With reasonable prices and crave-able Mexican food, many Jersey Citians expected the eatery to stay in town longer than it actually did — just a few months.
Of course, no one business at 100 York Street has lasted too long. Before 100 York was Los Dos, it was The Royal and before that, it was Lisbon.
In 2018, the space at 100 York Street transformed from Lisbon — a Portuguese eatery serving steaks, seafood, and a small outdoor seating area — to The Royal, a gay bar owned and operated by Paul Cate and George Makrogiannis of the next-door Buddy Who’s. But by March 2019, The Royal had switched its concept again, this time reopening as Los Dos. A few months later and 100 York has returned to its LGBTQ+ roots, one of its earlier concepts.
Hopefully, 100 York has more luck this second time around as another LGBTQ+ bar. With live musical performances running like clockwork every night at 8:00PM {and happy hour specials on top of that!}, Pianist Envy could very well be the next big LGBTQ spot in downtown JC.
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The Vibe + Atmosphere
Jersey City’s first LGBTQ+ piano bar will feature the musical stylings of resident pianist Michael McAssey, a three-time nominee of the Manhattan Association of Cabarets Award for best male vocalist. In addition to his three nominations, McAssey also won the award once, back in 1988.
Pianist Envy Piano Bar joins a legion of other LGBTQ+ bars in the area including Six26 {at 128 Christopher Columbus Drive}, Valetodo Nights {at 1300 Summit Avenue}, and Pint {at 34 Wayne Street}.
Pianist Envy is already open, but the grand opening is happening on December 19th — you can follow them on Instagram for updates, upcoming events, and specials.
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The Cafe at Journal Squared: Jersey City’s Newest Coffee Shop
When chilly season strikes in Hudson County there are two things we know help the winter blues: warm beverages and cozy gatherings. Enter The Cafe at Journal Squared, presented by Almost Home — a brand-new coffee shop located at 595 Pavonia Avenue in Jersey City that's focused on a community-centric feel for the ultimate coffee hang-out. Read on for everything we know about the Journal Square neighborhood’s latest addition.
Photo Credit: Christian Harder
The Cafe at Journal Squared
The Café at Journal Squared is a new coffee shop presented by Almost Home, a New Jersey-based company known for its uniquely designed cafes, coffeehouses, and coffee carts which all gained a massive following after opening its first location in Lincroft, New Jersey. Locals may know the team’s coffee cart located inside Hudson House at 315 15th Street in Jersey City. Entrepreneur and dedicated founder Robert Doran has been working behind the scenes to bring Almost Home’s latest venture to life and create a space for locals to gather. He is looking forward to the new cafe being “a beacon for the community—a place to relax and connect” according to a press release. The Cafe at Journal Squared is one of 11 of the brand’s locations throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Photo Credit: Christian Harder
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The Cafe at Journal Squared is located in the lobby of the third tower of Journal Squared. Conveniently settled above the Journal Square PATH Station, this new endeavor was designed to create vibrant and community-centric spaces within the neighborhood. The space can seat 50+ guests and features cozy seating arrangements and playful swinging chairs. The well-lit lobby is flooded with natural light and creates a warm and inviting ambiance for coffee lovers, work-from-homers, or those who just need a moment of peace and relaxation.
The Menu
While the vibes alone are with all the hype, the coffee creations at The Cafe at Journal Squared will also have an Insta-worthy edge. Robert has thoughtfully crafted a lively menu with high-quality coffee, baked goods, wraps, baked goods, matcha, and salads. Aside from the usual coffee drinks, Robert has taken things to the next level to incorporate a bit of nostalgic flare, nodding to his childhood. Fun-filled drinks like the Cereal Latte and the Dirty Yoo-hoo, a rich, chocolatey espresso served in a Yoo-hoo bottle, are sure to be favorites. Other drinks of interest have to be the Pistachio Milk Matcha, made with Nekohama Matcha or the Monochrome, a latte with activated charcoal and vanilla.
Photo Credit: Christian Harder
Robert said via a press release “We have these fun drinks based on the things I grew up enjoying, but at the same time we do the basics really well. Every season we are sourcing some of the best single-origin coffees from around the world, and we are constantly changing our offerings based on what is in harvest. We take a lot of pride in our espresso-based options and our pour-overs, so we try to find a nice balance that includes both serious, high-quality coffee and fun, Instagram-worthy creations.”
Visiting The Cafe at Journal Squared
The Cafe at Journal Squared is open daily from 7AM-4PM. Menu items are also available for delivery or pick up via Toast here. To keep up with all things Almost Home follow along on Instagram or check out the website.
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