Feed Your Soul on You Tube

Downtown cookie bakery Feed Your Soul makes an appearance on YouTube. The short interview talks about cookies, from We Are New

Music Festival Kicks off Today

The All Points West concert opens today in Liberty State Park, meaning its probably a good idea to avoid Lafayette, Liberty State Park, and the light rail line south of Exchange Place.

The concert officially ends at 11pm, so expect the PATH and light rail system to get a bit crowded around then. Also, with lots of out of towners coming in for the festival, you can bet the parking authority will have a field day with the boot, so make sure you garage the car if you lack the necessary permits.

Gothamist has a nice map of the fair grounds. If you happen to be going, note the official rules prohibit in-and-outs, so if you live downtown and hope to catch an early show before slipping out for a few beers on Grove Street, you won't be getting back in.

Ox Restaurant Reviewed

I Am Not a Chef reviews downtown eatery Ox, a not quite yet year old Newark Avenue restaurant that has already made NJ Monthly Magazine's best in state list.

Lefrak Goes Hollywood, London Next

Epoch Times gives a reach around to the Lefrak organization, heaping much love on Jersey City's Newport development. Lefrak has diversified in recent years, buying up properties in Hollywood, and now looking to invade the U.K.

South City Grill Gets New Chef

Second Helpings notes South City Grill corporate has hired a new executive chef who will oversee the chain. South City Grill has a location in Newport, and will be opening South City Prime, a steakhouse, in the Jersey City Westin hotel, set to open this fall.

Taco Truck Takes Break

We Are New reports that Lucinda Burritos + Tacos, the well received taco truck from the Exchange Place area is taking a break after being told by 101 Hudson Street that the truck couldn't park in front of the building any more.

Insurance Company Leases 100,000 Square Feet Downtown

Arch Insurance has taken a 106,815 square foot lease at Harbor Side Plaza 3, notes Commercial Property News. Harborside is reportedly 99.6% leased.

The Observer has a bit more; Arch insurance is consolidating two locations in Manhattan in Jersey City and subleasing their midtown space. Or something like that.

Jersey City Museum Free Through August

NEW blog reports that the Jersey City Museum has gone to summer hours-- but also free admission. Summer hours and free admission is good through August 24.

Fight Continues Over Downtown Warehouse

A judge will make a ruling over the downtown Butler Brother's Warehouse, reports the Journal. The building has also been cited for failure to have a fire suppression system. Watch for smoke if the judge rules the building should be preserved.

Festival Cancelled, Parade Still On

The Journal notes the Caribbean Festival has been canceled, but the parade will continue as planned.

Developer Wants to Demo Butler Brother's

Owner of the Butler Brother's warehouse is taking a lesson from neighbor Lloyd Goldman and claiming the historic warehouse is ready to collapse reports the Journal. The owner of the 1905 building says its ready to fall down and should be demolished. Rumors have long suggested the owner had been looking to replace the building with a high rise tower.

City Blood Drive Today

A blood drive in Jersey City is taking place in the downtown PACO Community Center, notes Hudson Now.

Church Redevelopment Delayed Over Parking

The Journal reports the zoning board postponed the review of the conversion of Saint Boniface with angered residents upset over the lack of parking.

St. Boniface Goes Before Zoning Board

The conversion of St. Boniface from a Catholic church to condominium building heads before the zoning board tonight. Neighbors of the project are decrying the proposal because it doesn't include a hideous parking garage; apparently, there really isn't any accounting for taste.

Saint Boniface and the rectory are on First Street. The developer would build a new townhouse on Second Street where the abandoned parking lot is, currently encircled with rusting chain link fence. The variance calls for combining the lots into a single condominium lot, and the residences would share a common courtyard.

Obama Supporters to Drink at Embankment

A social event for Obama Supporters will take place on August 19th, in downtown restaurant / bar, The Embankment. The minimum contribution is $15.

BJ's Shopping Carts Litter City

Big Box retailer BJ's Wholesale Club has done nothing about their shopping carts scattered around Jersey City. A thread on JCList began discussing the problem back in May. New York's Sixth exposes half a dozen shopping carts left around the downtown. Yet the plague of bright red shopping carts continues.

Other downtown big box retailers don't seem to have the problem-- A&P, ShopRite, and Target have electronic locking mechanisms on their carts, and PathMark has barriers around their store to prevent escaping carts. Meanwhile, BJ's shopping carts collect in the basements of luxury residential apartment buildings and end up miles from the downtown store.

Perhaps its time to take a cue from the folks down under; an Australian town solved their "trolley" problem by fining merchants $75 for every cart left lying about.

Paulus Hook Getting Grocery Store

New York's Sixth notes (third item) a rumor that a grocery store is finally coming to Paulus Hook in the base of the Liberty Towers. The downtown neighborhood has long been without its own grocery store.

Sink Hole to Keep Marin Closed

A sink hole on Marin Blvd, the result of a broken water main, will keep two lanes of the road closed while repair crews attempt to correct the problem, reports the Journal.

Armani Exchange Coming to Newport Mall

The Life Vicarious writes that Armani Exchange will be coming to Newport Mall, as well as a rumored Ruehl No. 925., an Abercrombie spin off.

Recycling Buildings

The Star Ledger notes that historic condo buildings like Dixon Mills might have more character than generic high-rise towers. Canco, the Beacon, Saint Francis, Park Foundry, and Majestic all get name dropped.

Owen Grundy Park Opens Today

Owen Grundy Park, a downtown pier that has spent 18 months being renovated, opened today. New York's Sixth has photos of the park.

Downtown Church to Become Condos

The Journal reports that Saint Boniface, a former Catholic church on First Street, received approval from the historic preservation commission to convert the property into 14 residential condos. Downtown neighborhoods are punctuated by numerous churches that, with the arrival of Godless yuppies, have seen a steady drop in membership.

Godiva in at Newport Mall

The Life Vicarious notes that Godiva chocolate has opened in the mall, and Cafe Ritazza has closed in Paulus Hook.

As Real Estate Slows, Incentives Increase

Area real estate sales have slowed with major housing projects delayed or stalled as the market sours. GroveStreet JC reviews an open house in a downtown tower, the Waldo Lofts, that opened last year. A $15k closing cost fee is being offered as an incentive.

Lehman Offered Incentives for More Workers in Jersey

Lehman Brothers was offered $20 million to bring 400 jobs and create 100 more in New Jersey, reports BusinessWeek. Most of those jobs are likely to be in Jersey City.

Financial incentives like the one being offered Lehman are credited with the Jersey City office boom that resulted in such icons like the Goldman Sachs tower. However, in more recent years, office rents have remained comparatively low leaving many proposed office towers on hold. Some, like 77 Hudson, were canceled entirely, and now are condominiums and rental apartments.

Tires Latest Target in Theft

Spare tires are disappearing from cars in the downtown as the sour economy leads thieves to find alternative sources of income. Multiple tires have been stolen from the back of vehicles in the Van Vorst Park neighborhood, notes a JCList thread.

Skinner's Loft Uncovered

Jersey City Uncovered writes up a positive little piece on Skinner's Loft, a Newark Avenue bar and restaurant that opened a little less than a year ago. The establishment has revamped is menu several time in the last year.

Downtown Office Tower Retains Tenants

101 Hudson Street retains a major lease holder Mack-Cali announced. Tullett Prebon Holdings Corp leased more than 100,000 square feet of space, or a little less than 10% of the 1.1 million square foot tower.

Jersey City Clothing Boutique Expanding

Clothing boutique LIFE has temporarily expanded in Hoboken, notes Hoboken411. The small clothing store's original Jersey City location is on Morris Street in Paulus Hook, with a "pop-up" store a the north end of Hoboken, located at 14th Street and Bloomfield Ave.

New York's Waterfalls Visible from Paulus Hook

One of the waterfalls installed around New York harbor and the East river is visible from Paulus Hook's waterfront notes New York's Sixth.

Rain Truncates Festival

JC Register reports that the Philippine-American Friendship Day was cut short by weather. Several people were injured when high winds toppled tents. Several impressive photos of the event show the heavy downpour.

Car Burning on Second Street at Erie

A parked car is on fire on Second street downtown.

update
The fire has been extinguished.

update 2
New York's Sixth posted photos of the car burning.

Museum Hosting Two, One Act Plays

The Jersey City Museum is hosting two one act plays on July 12, presented by the Philippine-American Friendship Committee. How To Cook Adobo and Ang Nobya Kong Arabyana, translated as "My Arabian Sweetheart", are both written by Filipino-American playwrights. More information is available from the Jersey City Museum website.

Owen Grundy Park to Open July 10

The Own Grundy pier park will officially open on July 10, notes the Hudson Reporter. The pier the park sits on has been rebuilt and new amenities added like a live stage.

Pride Regatta at Newport Landing Marina

The Knickerbocker Sailing Association is hosting the Sixth Annual Stonewall Sails Regatta at Newport Landing Marina on June 27th as part of their Pride Week activities.

Owen Grundy Park Nearly Ready

The pier beyond Exchange Place PATH station has been under construction for more than two years as the J. Owen Grundy Park has been rehabilitated. JC Construction writes that the park is almost set to open, and has posted pictures of the rehabbed pier.

La Rustique Opens at New Location

A rumor on JCList points out that brick oven pizzeria La Rustique has opened in a new location in Harsimus Cove. The restaurant was pushed out of the Paulus Hook location. For now only take out is available, but tables inside and out may be available as soon as next week.

Aqua Tower to Comply With New Labor Laws

The $51 million dollar Aqua tower in Newport is likely to become the first to comply with the city's labor requirements for buildings costing more than $25 million and that receive abatements, reports the Journal. The agreements lead to the labor unions hiring Jersey City residents as new apprentices.

Wendy's Giving Away Free Burgers

JC Register notes that a portable Wendy's kitchen will be in Exchange Place on Friday giving 1/4 pound singles and gift cards. The event starts at 10am and goes until 2pm.

Yuppies Buy Condos on JC Border

The Times writes up a touching tale of two yuppies who hate each other, hate the city, but ended up buying a condo on the border of Jersey City and Hoboken. Bonus points are awarded for mentioning Canco Lofts, a development the subject of the article represents as a real estate agent.

Despite Accidents, City Slow to Respond

Jersey City is finally addressing high speed accidents along Erie Street with the addition of a stop sign on Third Street, notes the Hudson Reporter. Accidents along the street in recent months have sent cars through fences and into the sides of buildings. Pedestrians, so far, have avoided death.

While Downtown Councilman Steven Fulop requested stop signs at each of the numbered streets only Erie, the Jersey City Police Department disagreed claiming such a measure would slow traffic too much. The Jersey City police department has a building located on Erie Street; Erie is one way, in the opposite direction of the nearest Dunkin Donuts.

Local residents have been looking for a solution to the traffic problems, but may not get one even with these changes. The addition of a single stop sign leaves six other cross streets unprotected and many residents believe the real problem is cars parked too close to corners. Cars coming to intersections can't see on coming traffic without pulling out into the middle of Erie Street. The Parking Authority has promised to step up enforcement, though its unlikely police vehicles parked illegally or double parked along Erie Street will by receiving tickets either.

Pizzeria Opens on Greene Street

Pizza alla Gargiulo opened at 101 Greene Street in Paulus Hook, notes The Life Vicarious. Van Houtte Cafe also opened recently.

Contractor at 77 Hudson Could Get Fine

The Journal reports a concrete contractor at 77 Hudson Street could face a fine of $877,000 for safety violations. A worked fell to his death in March at the tower.

Downtown Retail Changing Rapidly

Downtown Jersey City retail is under going plenty of changes, notes New York's Sixth. Grocery stores, cafe seating, and art galleries are in. Shoes and electronics are out.

Farmer's Market Uncovered

Jersey City Uncovered explores the Van Vorst farmer's market, a Saturday morning market held in the downtown park.

Post Office to be Named After Former Congressman

Frank Guarini, a Jersey City native and former Congressman from 1979 to 1993 will lend his name to the main post office at 69 Montgomery Street, notes the Journal

Downtown Restaurants Reviewed

Blogger Grove Street JC wrote up three mini-reviews of downtown eateries Soul Flavors, Grand Sichuan, and Nha Trang.

Films in the Park

The summer season of films in Van Vorst Park kicks off on Wednesday, June 11th with Juno.

Films in Van Vorst Park

Charity Patio Party

JC Register notes that World of Style Vintage Clothing will be hosting a patio party and charity auction tonight between 7pm and 9pm. The patio party is being thrown in conjunction with the Jersey City Lesbian-Gay Outreach. The charity auction supports the Joan Moore Children's Art Fund. World of Style is located at 18 Erie Street.

World of Style

More on Powerhouse Deal

News that Jersey City and the Port Authority have struck a compromise over the powerhouse has hit the media circuit with the AP writing up a story. While the compromise calls for a land swap between the city and the Port Authority, the land the city intends to trade has not yet been determined, meaning other than formalizing their goals, the powerhouse is not much closer to rehabilitation than it was a year ago.

Possible sites include a triangular spit of land on Washington Blvd at Second Street, though this piece of land was originally intended to become a park, not a power substation. Another alternative being considered is within the Butler Brother's Warehouse, but the owner of that lot wants nothing to do with the project.

The Journal has a few more details on the whole project. The city will be responsible for cleaning up the site and reinforcing the structure before handing it over to the Cordish Companies, the developer. That could cost between $30 and $40 million.

Port Authority and City Reach Deal Over Powerhouse

One big hurdle to the redevelopment of the Powerhouse has been overcome with the Port Authority agreeing to move transformers on the site and relinquish control of the powerhouse to the city, reports the Star Ledger. The plan involves gifting city owned land to the Port Authority in exchange for the powerhouse, though it doesn't seem clear as to whether the city owned land has yet been determined.

Port City Java Closer to Opening

A new coffee shop set to open near the Dixon Mills apartment complex downtown is promising to open soon, notes the Journal.

JC Fridays Benefits from Good Weather

Participants of last night's JC Fridays enjoyed a beautiful summer evening in the downtown. JC Register posts a few photos.

Grove Street Newest Concert Venue

The Downtown Special Improvement District is hosting "Groove on Grove," a concert series on Wednesdays in June. The weekly live music series will be between 6 and 8pm.

JCDowntown.org

Powerhouse District Gets First Play Performance

Hudson Now reports tonight is the opening of Suburbia, a play by Eric Bogosian. The performance at 150 Bay Street is the first time the Powerhouse District serves as a venue for a theater performance. Tickets are $12; shows Thursday through Sundays until June 15.

PAD Hosting Street Fair

The Powerhouse Arts District Neighborhood Association is hosting a community street fair on June 28 featuring vendors with arts related wares.

JC Fridays an All Day Event

Tomorrow's JC Fridays event marks the third year anniversary of the monthly promotion for downtown Jersey City. Events are planned throughout the day, beginning in the morning. JC Uncovered put together a map of things to do. For complete listing of events, visit JCFridays.com.

Downtown Condo Project to be Sold

A downtown condominium project on the border between Hoboken and the Holland Tunnel is up for sale, notes New York's Sixth. The 84 unit building broke ground just before the credit crisis of 2007. The lot at 833 Jersey Avenue and the approved architectural plans are available for $12 million.

Hamilton Park Farmer's Market for Real Tonight

The Hamilton Park Farmer's Market opens tonight between 4pm and 8pm. Earlier this year, a second farmer's market was scheduled for Mondays. The founders of that market allege that the Hamilton Park Neighborhood Association killed the Monday market by convincing the city to deny them permits.

Inevitable Powerhouse Lawsuit Filed

The Journal reports that Powerhouse District residents filed their promised lawsuit to prevent the rezoning of the neighborhood.

Torico's Gains Mostly Favorable Review

Downtown ice cream stand Torico's received a mostly favorable review from The the Chocolate Peanut Butter Gallery blog. That's a mouthful, but not surprising then that the blogger sampled the chocolate peanut butter ice cream, by way of a milkshake. On one hand, the blogger suggests the peanut butter wasn't salty enough, but

"Still, I’d like to go back and try the chocolate peanut butter ice cream in it’s “natural state” (un milk-shake-ified) to give the ice cream itself a fair taste."

Economic Slowdown Hits Newport

JC Construction points out that the under construction Newport Tower Aqua has sat idle for several months, a sign that Newport's stalwart rental market may have slowed. The shell of the tower has had very little work for months. Advertisements lining the PATH system and internet sites might point to higher vacancies as well.

Could A Crane Collapse in Jeresy City?

An upper east side construction crane collapsed in New York today killing two, just ten weeks after a similar collapse killed seven. New York's Sixth points out a few projects in Jersey City with construction cranes, and put together a map with the projects.

Council Grants Stay of Execution to Abusive Booting Practices

Downtown councilman Steve Fulop wanted to end abuses by the parking authority in downtown neighborhoods. The parking authority has been booting cars when they should have only been writing tickets for zone violations; the boots should only be attached to cars after the third violation. But the boot generates more revenue for the city.

City council members sent Fulop's ordinance to committee, reports the Journal, for several revisions. Jersey City Heights councilman Bill Gaughan reprimanded Fulop for suggesting that the city should stop balancing the budget with downtown parking tickets introducing a bill that "didn't make any sense."

JC Fridays Hits 3 Year Anniversary

June 6 marks the three year anniversary of the launching of JC Fridays, notes the Hudson Current. JC Fridays promotes art, music, performance, and local shops in the city, though mostly downtown. On June 6, events begin as early as 9am. For a full list of venues, visit JCFridays.com

Overzealous Parking Authority May Finally Be Reigned In

The Jersey City Parking Authority doesn't hesitate in slapping the boot on cars parked in downtown zones, and that's a problem according to Councilman Steve Fulop reports the Journal. First time offenders often find themselves booted and forced to pay a $110 fine in addition to a $42 ticket, even though the parking authority is not authorized to boot first time offenders in most zones. The arbitrary enforcement of parking rules means huge revenues in the way of fines.

110 First Street Ready for Abatement

A 35 story downtown rental tower in the Powerhouse District is set to receive a 10 year abatement. The tower will include 420 units, 25 of which will be reserved for artists. The abatement ordinance was introduced in an 8-0 vote and is expected to pass.

New Downtown Retail

The Life Vicarious updates a few retail changes coming to Jersey City. Coming soon to the Newport Mall is Hollister, a teen clothing company, and Hale & Hearty Soup. In Paulus Hook, two store fronts are being renovated for Citiroots and a baby supply store.

Exeter Property Having Zoning Problems

Exeter Property, a downtown developer with a portfolio that includes the Majestic, Schroeder Lofts, and the Park Foundry apparently needs a zoning change for its next project on the corner of Grove and Montgomery Streets. Exeter hung a banner asking a rhetorical question to residents: "What do you want?"