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CONTENTS 07030
26
FEATURES COVER
DEPARTMENTS
46 HELPING HANDS YMCA
Photo courtesy of the Hoboken Historical museum
8 CONTENTS
50 HOW WE WORK Small businesses
16 SINATRA … and Hoboken 22 STEVENS PRESIDENT Nariman Farvardin 26 AL BARKSY The art of entrepreneurship 30 FRANCHISE PHENOM Joe Andreula 62 ON STAGE Theater scene 66 PUNCH LINE Standup stars
12 CONTRIBUTORS 14 EDITOR’S LETTER
54 HOW WE LIVE House Proud
34 EMERGING HOBOKEN Maxwell’s remastered
58 ARCHIVES AND ARTIFACTS Elks Club
38 EDUCATION Apple Montessori
70 WEST SIDE STORY Under the Viaduct
40 EDITOR’S NOTE 72 ON THE WATERFRONT Pier 13
41 DATES What’s goin’ on
74 WATERING HOLE Biggie’s
42 ON THE JOB WITH— Vinnie Johnson
76 EATERIES Smokin’ Barrel 79 POINT AND SHOOT 07030 DISH 80 Restaurant listings
34 8 • 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING 2015
CITY LIFE
WE’VE GROWN SO MUCH IN JUST ONE YEAR! Thank you to all our clients, associates, business partners and the local brokerage community for a wonderful first year.
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CONTACT US FOR YOUR NEXT MOVE. Call 201.659.8600 or visit us at www.kwcitylife.com Find us on facebook at www.facebook.com/kwcitylife 100 WASHINGTON STREET • HOBOKEN • NEW JERSEY • 07030 EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & OPERATED
HOBOKEN
SPRING 2015 Vo l u m e 4 • N u m b e r 1 Published every Spring & Fall A Publication of The Hudson Reporter
PUBLISHERS Lucha Malato, David Unger EDITOR IN CHIEF Kate Rounds GRAPHICS STAFF Terri Saulino Bish, Lisa M. Cuthbert Alyssa Bredin Mike Mitolo Pasquale Spina COPYEDITING Christopher Zinsli ADVERTISING MANAGER Tish Kraszyk SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Toni Anne Calderone Ron Kraszyk ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Melissa Bridda Jay Slansky CIRCULATION MANAGER Roberto Lopez CIRCULATION Luis Vasquez ACCOUNTING Christine Caraballo
07030 Hoboken is published by the Hudson Reporter Associates, L.P., 1400 Washington St., Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (201) 798-7800, Fax (201) 798-0018. Email 07030@hudsonreporter.com. Subscriptions are $10 per year, $25 for overseas, single copies are $7.50 each, multiple copy discounts are available. VISA/MC/AMEX accepted. Subscription information should be sent to 07030 Hoboken Subscriptions, 1400 Washington St., Hoboken, NJ 07030. Not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or other unsolicited materials. Copyright ©2015, Hudson Reporter Associates L.P. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.
07030 Hoboken is a publication of The Hudson Reporter Associates, L.P. 1400 Washington Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030 phone 201.798.7800 • fax 201.798.0018 e-mail: 07030@hudsonreporter.com 07030hoboken.com
10 • 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING 2015
MANHATTAN SAVVY LOCAL EXPERTISE MARKET LEADER
OUR NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART 3800 SF OFFICE MARKET LEADER IN HOBOKEN, NJ
OWN 1/3 MARKET SHARE OF HOME SALES OVER $1M SINCE 2010 *
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2014 NJAR® Circle of Excellence® PLATINUM LEVEL Matt Brown t. 201.478.6709 www.halstead.com/MattBrown
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2014 NJAR® Circle of Excellence® GOLD LEVEL Sharon Shahinian t. 201.478.6730 www.halstead.com/SharonShahinian
2014 NJAR® Circle of Excellence® PLATINUM LEVEL Dale Fior t. 201.478.6705 www.halstead.com/DaleFior
2014 NJAR® Circle of Excellence® SILVER LEVEL Kim Sullivan-Beier t. 201.478.6716 www.halstead.com/KimSullivanBeier
To Learn More Contact Eugene Cordano | 201.478.6701 | Hoboken@halstead.com
2014 NJAR® Circle of Excellence® PLATINUM LEVEL Thomas Laurita t. 201.478.6745 www.halstead.com/ThomasLaurita
2014 NJAR® Circle of Excellence® BRONZE LEVEL Brian Steele t. 201.478.6727 www.halstead.com/BrianSteele
* Courtesy of the MLS Sold Report, 2014 ** According to the 2014 Trulia / Real Trends Top Agents in New Jersey List
ADRIANA RAMBAY FERNÁNDEZ
TERRI SAULINO BISH ALYSSA BREDIN
ANAND RAO
VICTOR M. RODRIGUEZ
C O N T R I B U T O R S
0 7 0 3 0
GENE RITCHINGS
TERRI SAULINO BISH
began her career as a graphic designer and digital artist. Expanding into the area of photography, she not only creates images but captures them with her camera. Her work has appeared in many publications, including Best of Photography. Her art currently includes digital paintings and photos that can be viewed at tbishphoto.com.
ALYSSA BREDIN
is a graduate of Saint Peter’s College, Jersey City, with a degree in graphic arts. She is pursuing a career in photography. Her work can be seen at tbishphoto.com.
ADRIANA RAMBAY FERNÁNDEZ
is a freelance writer and yoga teacher. Happy to call Jersey City home, she finds it is an endless source of creative inspiration. You can find her online at: http://adrianarambay.com/
ANAND RAO
is a writer, actor, and communications consultant who recently moved to New Jersey after living in Utah, Illinois, and India. When he is not taking on complex problems in organizational development and internal communications, he is doing theater or writing about interesting people and their work. He has an MBA, and an MA in English Literature.
12 • 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING 2015
TARA RYAZANSKY MAXIM RYAZANSKY
GENE RITCHINGS
is managing editor of the Hudson Reporter and a freelance editor. He wrote the novels Frankenrocker, Winter in a Summer Town, and the upcoming Misdirection, and has directed several short films of Anna Sokolow’s choreography. He is writing a memoir, Maladie d’Amour: Love, Sex, and Cancer. He can be reached at generitchings@gmail.com.
VICTOR M. RODRIGUEZ
has studied publication design, photography, and graphic design. “I’ve been fascinated by photography for 18 years,” he says. One of his jobs as a construction project manager is to photograph job sites.
MAXIM RYAZANSKY
is a photographer whose work has been exhibited in galleries and published worldwide. A recent transplant to Bayonne, he spends his spare time trying to figure out the best pizza place in town.
TARA RYAZANSKY
is a writer who recently moved from Brooklyn to Bayonne. She works as a blogger for Nameberry.com and spends her spare time fixing up her new (to her) 100-year-old home.
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EDITOR'S LETTER 07030
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14 • 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING 2015
Outside Chance
L
ast winter, it was the Polar Vortex, this winter the Siberian Express. Whatevah! Good riddance. Hobokenites are lucky that we can welcome spring by running, walking, or biking along the river walk or enjoy gardens and parks, whether we’re on the waterfront or on the west side. A few days after the first day of spring a seal was spotted sunning on a pier near the Shipyard condo complex. It was still too cold for humans to join her, but it was heartening to be reminded of the pleasant weather ahead. In this issue we capture the Margaritaville vibe of Pier 13 with its food trucks, outdoor bar, and general feel of urban innovation as city folks recreate a day at the beach. One couple featured in our “How We Live” section said they had an epiphany while strolling on the promenade with their kid. They’d been looking to buy on the Upper West Side of Manhattan but realized as they observed all the activity on the river walk, “Hey, we want to stay here.” Also on the river, Apple Montessori will be adding another school to complement the one on Maxwell Lane. This one, which will be on River Street near the W, will help meet the needs of Hoboken’s growing population of little learners. In this issue we take a look at the amazing family behind the Apple Montessori name. On Hoboken’s west side, a new neighborhood is emerging under the viaduct that will be a really lively spot for spring and summer fun, featuring a playground, basketball court, dog run, farmers’ market, and outdoor space for movies and concerts. We’re asking you guys to come up with a better name than NoVHo for this up-and-coming hood. The Mile Square Theatre and Hoboken Children’s Theater will eventually be housed over there. But in summer, you can always find Mile Square performances outside at Sinatra Park. Read Adriana Rambay Fernández’s story on Hoboken’s theater scene. I can’t let you go without mentioning you-know-who. Unless you’ve been living in Sybil’s Cave for the past few months, you know that Dec. 12, 2015, would have been Frank Sinatra’s 100th birthday. The Hoboken Historical Museum and many other venues are planning lots of events to mark this centennial. Check out Gene Ritchings’s story on Ol’ Blue Eyes. He did it our way.—07030
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Hoboken, October 1947 | Photo Courtesy of The Hoboken Historical Museum
Sinatra and Hoboken — The Voice left town, but Hoboken never let go of ‘Frankie’ BY GENE RITCHINGS
O
ne evening in New York, many years ago, Frank Sinatra stood at a window on a high floor of the Waldorf Astoria. He gazed across the Hudson River to the city of his birth. “It’s a lot farther from over there to here,” he mused to his friend the songwriter Jimmy Webb, “than it is from here to there.” Over there, as he called Hoboken, was where that long, hard climb began, when he was young, hungry for success, convinced he was a genius. He’d risen, and fallen, and picked himself up again more than once since then. But that night he was at the pinnacle of show business, an original, nobody
16 • 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING 2015
else like him. And yet it sounded like he was warning his friend Jimmy how suddenly a man could fall back, how fast the fickle American public’s adoration could turn to anger. Or was he saying that even though many in Hoboken felt he’d abandoned them, the city was never as far from his heart as they thought? Sinatra’s Hoboken is gone, of course. The fog of winter coal smoke has lifted. The cobbled streets are paved over and don’t smell of manure. Steamship horns moan less often in the river mist. The first-generation Irish and Germans who’d beat up the Italians west of Willow Avenue are gone. Software designers and Wall Streeters start the work day caffeinating at Starbucks, not curing their hangovers with a mug of hot clam
juice from the urn at the old Clam Broth House. The waterfront, once crowded with ocean liners and freighters and swarming with longshoremen in caps and baling hooks around their necks, is now a genteel, shady promenade where Hoboken moms push expensive baby strollers and sun worshippers sprawl on the green lawn of a park made from an old pier. Yet Sinatra is still everywhere in Hoboken. You can take a walking tour of the significant places in his biography. Get absorbed in the Historical Museum’s collection. Play his music on the jukebox at Leo’s Grandevous. Behind the cash registers in a lot of the older stores you’ll see a black-and-white picture, in a place of honor, signed “Love, Francis Albert.” This year might be the biggest year Frank Sinatra will ever have in his native city. Hoboken’s centenary celebration will surely intensify the mixture of pride and soul—and longing. The tribute has already begun. The Department of Cultural Affairs, the Historical Museum, and the Library will all present events and exhibits to honor his memory. As Hoboken plans a whole year’s worth of events leading up to the singer’s 100th birthday on Dec. 12, the city seems a little like a tough, soulful dame he’d jilted long ago, but who can’t stop longing for him. Whether as Skinny Little Frankie, or the heartthrob of the Paramount, or the man who couldn’t tame Ava Gardner, or Maggio, or the Rat Pack hedonist, Frankie Machine, or Tony Rome, Hoboken will take Sinatra any way she can have him, because they’re both of the same soul, and like he did, she carries a chip on her shoulder the size of the state of New Jersey. The speed of fame—driven by the screaming of thousands of girls—propelled him to New York and Hollywood. The reasons that Sinatra spurned Hoboken
CELEBRATE 100 YEARS
Photo Courtesy of The Morrison Hotel Gallery, New York City
Photo by Jorg Hackemann / Shutterstock.com
Frankly Speaking The city’s Cultural Affairs Division, the Hoboken Historical Museum, and the Public Library are planning a series of events to commemorate Frank Sinatra’s 100th birthday. Here’s a schedule, but make sure to check their websites for more details.
June 2 The traveling exhibit from the Grammy Awards Museum, Sinatra: An American Icon, moves to the Hoboken Public Library until mid-September.
June 10 A screening of the archetypal Rat Pack feature film Ocean’s 11 will take place at Pier A Park beginning at 9 p.m. Admission is free.
June 11 The city’s annual Sinatra Idol contest gets underway at 9 p.m. at Pier A Park. In case of rain, event will take place at DeBaun Auditorium.
June 12-14 A weekend of inescapable Sinatra. All weekend, Sinatrastyle singers will appear in venues all over Hoboken, see page 18
The Hoboken Four |Photo Courtesy of The Hoboken Historical Museum
have been repeated so often that they’ve become urban legends, whether true or apocryphal. Opinions and memories differ on what happened the few times he did return. Hoboken threw an official Frank Sinatra Day in October 1947, when his star was still rising. It was a gloomy day whose festivities were cut short by pouring rain, and he needed to rush to a benefit concert that night in New York. Reports have circulated ever since that people who felt he’d gotten uppity and figured he thought he was too good for them threw fruit at his parade, even though he told a radio interviewer on the scene that the people of Hoboken were wonderful. The last time Sinatra sang publicly in Hoboken was in 1952 at the request of his father Marty, a city firefighter and amateur boxer, at the Union Club, at a fundraiser for the local of the International Firefighter’s union. The talk later was that an out-of-vogue Sinatra got upset when the kids wanted to dance instead of listen to him sing, got surly, delivered a cool performance, and left by a back door. One moment when he might have returned to show Hoboken his acting chops slipped through his fingers. Elia Kazan almost cast Sinatra as Terry Malloy, the consciencetormented hero of On the Waterfront, before deciding on Marlon Brando. “I think Frank would have been wonderful, but Brando seemed more vulnerable,” Kazan said later.
18 • 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING 2015
“There was more self-doubt, more schism, more pain in Brando. With Frank it’s in there, but it’s deep down and he’s been able to cover it up too well.” Frank Sinatra, playing a character who drops a dime on gangsters? Let’s not even go there. In 1963 he threw a 50th wedding anniversary party for Marty and Dolly, his quiet, gentle father and the indomitable mother he feared and revered and who provided crucial connections at key moments in his early career. People came away from the event at the Casino in the Park in Jersey City grumbling that Sinatra came in through the side door, ignored everyone, refused to pose for pictures, and worse, didn’t sing. Even then, Hoboken’s fierce love for her native son remained undiminished. For years rumors circulated of Sinatra sightings, usually in the wee small hours of the morning, or of his limousine parked outside restaurants and stores whose delicacies he still favored. He did slip back into town in 1982 to heal an old wound he’d inflicted when he threw a teenage tantrum at his Irish godfather, Frank Garrick, after whom the priest at his baptism had mistakenly named him instead of Marty. According to published accounts, the men reminisced about the old days in Hoboken and came to an awkward, but welcome, truce.
In 1984, Ronald Reagan campaigned for reelection in staunchly Democratic Hoboken. At the St. Ann’s festival he got a respectful welcome—the guy was president, after all—but the crowd really went wild when Frank Sinatra, the president’s friend from his Hollywood days, also stepped from the president’s car. A year later, Sinatra’s last recorded visit to Hoboken was to receive an honorary doctorate from Stevens Institute of Technology, where the singer once claimed he used to jog the track and swim in the college’s pool to build up his lung capacity. Accounts of the event don’t specify what academic discipline he had mastered to receive such an honor, but Ol’ Blue Eyes PhD must’ve felt a long way from 1931, the year he quit A.J. Demarest High after 47 days. Traces of old Hoboken will endure just as the sound of its street talk never quite left Sinatra’s diction. You can bet the city will never let the memory of him fade away. It’s more than just the publicity value of a celebrity citizen. Some essence of Hoboken always remained in Sinatra, the man Bruce Springsteen once called “the patron saint of New Jersey.” It was in his walk, the way he talked, and most of all, it was forever in his music. And as the man once sang, pal, the song is you.—07030
CELEBRATE 100 YEARS
Photo Courtesy of The Morrison Hotel Gallery, New York City
from page 17
including a Friday luncheon for senior citizens at the Multi Service Center. Some will be “Idol” contestants but many might be never-seen-before singers from distant places. On Saturday the Hoboken Public Library will hold a book fair in Sinatra Park with readings, various programs, books for sale, and tables from community organizations. Sunday evening, 6-8 p.m., Swingadelic, a 15piece orchestra, will back up past winners of the “Idol” contest in Sinatra Park. The hoped-for finale: 100 singers in suits and fedoras parading down Washington Street singing “New York, New York.” A trivia contest at Maxwell’s might be Sinatra-centric. During the summer concert series Skanatra will regroup to perform Jamaican versions of Sinatra tunes.
June 18 The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra will offer a free concert of interpretations of Sinatra classics at Pier A Park at 7 p.m.
August 2 An exhibit on Sinatra’s life in and influence on Hoboken will open at the Hoboken Historical Museum August 2 and run through Dec. 23.
Dec. 12, Sinatra’s 100th birthday Stevens Institute, the Hoboken Museum, and city Cultural Affairs are organizing a concert at Bissinger Room at Stevens, featuring Swingadelic offering a repeat of their June 14 concert. For more information: City Cultural Affairs: hoboken nj.org/departments/humanservices/cultural-affairs Hoboken Historical Museum: hobokenmuseum.org Hoboken Public Library: hoboken.bccls.org
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BFF>=B:M> H<<NI:G<R Ma^:o^gn^<hee^\mbhgGC'\hf HK <:EE +)*'+*)'))22 Price subject to change without notice. Visit Lennar.com or see a New Home Consultant for further details. Plans and elevations are artists renderings and may contain options which are not standard on all models. Lennar reserves the right to make changes to plans and elevations with out prior notice. Lennar Sales Corp. - Broker. Copyright © 2015 Lennar Corporation ®. Lennar and the Lennar Logo are registered service marks of Lennar Corporation ® and /or it’s subsidiaries. 4/15
THE ROAD FROM KERMANSHAH BY ANAND RAO
A journey of mind and spirit
I
meet Dr. Nariman Farvardin, the seventh president of Stevens Institute of Technology, on the university campus on a cold, windy afternoon. We chat over hot beverages in his office with a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline. Born in Tehran in 1956 into a highly educated family, he is the product of both nature and nurture. Despite a relaxed demeanor, his measured speech betrays a deeply analytical mind that leaves nothing to chance. His first name comes from the Persian words “nor” and “iman,” which mean light and faith. This is the story of a teacher, who at age 9 discovered the joy of imparting knowledge. It was at a school in Kermanshah, a city in Iran known as the highway of civilizations. When the winds of culture wafted down the red-rock Zagros Mountains that skirt the Iranian plateau, the city attracted hordes of traders, travelers, and invaders, infusing the region with a variety of flavors. Kermanshah linked the eastern world to Mesopotamia, the cradle of ancient civilization. “I was always good in mathematics,” Farvardin recalls. “When I was in third grade, my teacher asked me to help a classmate. I would go early before school to tutor the girl. After a few months the girl showed significantly improved grades.” That experience influenced his career; he never stopped teaching. “Sometimes I begin my speech to a group by saying that I have been a teacher for 49 years,” he says, laughing. “I can see people trying to calculate my age based on that number, and wonder how young I look.” Before Farvardin turned 14, he had set his sights on becoming a university professor.
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POLITICS INTERVENE Leaving Kermanshah and moving back to Tehran at age 17, he enrolled in a university, but the start of the Iranian Revolution forced him to drop out before he graduated. The rise of Ayatollah Khomeini and the tumultuous events that followed are still etched in his memory. “It was a very difficult time for everyone,” he says. “The whole country was in turmoil. My original plan was to come to the U.S. for a Masters and Doctorate, and I wanted to go back to Iran to become a professor.” He left for the U.S. on Jan. 5, 1979, to complete his undergraduate degree. “The initial days were difficult because I spoke very little English,” he says. “I would understand technical or scientific material but generally had a hard time with the English language. And money was a problem too.” He was also worried about his family, given the turbulent political situation back home in Iran. “Ayatollah came back a month after I left, and all hell had broken loose,” he says. “I could not stop thinking about the loved ones I had left behind.”
After the initial years of anxiety, Farvardin blossomed in the U.S. as an intellectual and highly accomplished scholar. Another influence on his career was an uncle, recently deceased, who was an electromechanical engineer. Farvardin received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N.Y. He emerged as an authority in information theory and coding, multimedia signal compression and transmission, high-speed networks and wireless networks. He developed standards in image and video compression. “You know JPEG, MPEG and such algorithms? They never existed before these standards were developed,” he explains. He holds seven U.S. patents. A successful entrepreneur, he founded two companies, Zagros Networks and NovaTherm Technologies.
MILE SQUARE WELCOME Farvardin joined Stevens after a 27-year stint at the University of Maryland. He was a member of the faculty and served as the University’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. He moved to Hoboken in July 2011. “I had moved from a good professional environment to a great one,” he says. “It was challenging and exciting at the same time, but one thing I would like to say is that the people in Stevens and in Hoboken have been unbelievably nice to me.” He relates an experience he had within the first two months of moving to the Stevens campus: “One day,
my wife and I decided to order pizza for delivery. I called a pizza joint from the yellow pages, placed my order, and gave him directions to the Hoxie House, my official campus residence. The man on the other end asked me if I was the president, and when I said yes, he excitedly mentioned that he had heard about me, and said ‘Welcome to Stevens, Mr. President.’ A few minutes later the pizza arrived at my door, and the delivery boy vehemently refused to accept money. He said it was on the house. “Hoboken feels like a small town though it’s right next to one of the world’s biggest cities,” Farvardin says. “Stevens is like a big fish in a small pond, and everyone knows me. Add to it, the university work has kept me so busy that I haven’t had the time to miss my friends in Maryland.”
THE ROAD TO EXCELLENCE One of the first programs he initiated is a decade-long campaign called “The Future, Ours to Create,” which aims to increase the university’s influence through a holistic growth plan to achieve excellence in all areas of the university.
NARIMAN FARVARDIN PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
One issue close to Farvardin’s heart is brain drain. “We immigrants are all too familiar with the notion of brain drain,” he says. “The biggest loss countries have faced over the years is the loss of its intelligent, educated and enterprising people. If only those countries can provide opportunities, financial support, and the nurturing environment to flourish, there’s no reason for its brilliant doctors, scientists, and engineers to go elsewhere. Brain drain happens to states too. When I moved to New Jersey and studied my new environment and state, I discovered that New Jersey was one of the wealthiest states in the U.S. by many parameters. A significant percentage of the state’s resources is invested in the K-12 school system. Its schools are consistently ranked in the top 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING 2015 •
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three in the country. When you look beyond K-12, you will see the magnitude of the problem. About 30,000 students—a product of New Jersey’s successful K-12 education system— leave high schools to go to other states. A significant percentage of students who leave for higher education don’t return to their home state. You invest resources, shower them with care and attention, give them very good education, and when they are almost ready to become contributors to society and the economic system, we deliver them to other states. The politicians need to set their differences aside and find a solution to this problem. Otherwise the level of prosperity New Jersey has benefited from for decades may not be sustainable.”
INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP Farvardin’s talent as an engineer, teacher, administrator, and entrepreneur are in full display at Stevens. “Our destination at Stevens is to achieve excellence in everything we do,” he says. “We have not reached our destination yet, but we are on the right trajectory. Changing the culture is a very slow process.” He does not think that entrepreneurship can be taught. “You can develop the skills and give the tools to those with the right DNA to become successful entrepreneurs,” he says. But, “I am a believer that
entrepreneurship is not for everybody. This country is several decades ahead of other countries when it comes to the entrepreneurial spirit, and we want to become a topnotch university that provides skills and tools to students with the entrepreneurial tendencies to prosper.” Farvardin is at home with the university’s tagline, “The Innovation University.” “Innovation is a broad concept,” he says. “You can be innovative in developing new solutions to existing problems. You can be innovative in developing a new administrative approach. You can be innovative in everything we do. At Stevens we are looking to plant the seeds of thinking innovatively, not just students but faculty too. A phenomenal family of innovators founded this institution. I am truly inspired by the Stevens family, whose contribution to education, industry, and the whole community is priceless.” He notes that Colonel John Stevens, a pioneer of the steamboat, was the original buyer of the land on which the university was built. (An exhibit on the Stevens family can be seen at the Hoboken Historical Museum through July 5. Visit hobokenmusuem.org.)
PHOTO BY ANAND RAO
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Farvardin epitomizes the classic immigrant success story and welcomes new challenges. “I work all the time,” he says. “Even while on vacation because I love what I do, and my job gives me great pleasure.” When he does take a break, he spends time with his equally accomplished wife, Hoveida, an engineer with the World Bank, and his daughter, Tandice, who is studying law at Columbia University. His dog, Martini, is often seen around the campus accompanying the president on his rounds. “Soon after I arrived in the U.S., I ran out of money,” he relates. “Yet, I continued to stay, got myself an education, found a good job, and today I am the president of a university. This country gave me the opportunity to become a somebody. Not only am I grateful for this opportunity, I always ask myself, what can I do to create this opportunity for others? I will feel fulfilled when I create this opportunity for as many hardworking and talented people as I can. Right now, my influence is through my job with Stevens, and I want to get extremely talented people to come here with the hope that they will be encouraged and supported, and that they get to go out and make the world a better place.”—07030
“Black Dress” by Margherita Martinelli
A PICTURE’S WORTH…
The art of entrepreneurship 26 • 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SUMMER 2015
Photo of owner & director Albert Barsky by Habib Ayat
A
lot of people who love art don’t know how to parlay that love into a livelihood. But Al Barsky isn’t one of them. For three and half years the Barsky Gallery has been thriving on Harrison Street in the shadow of the Hoboken trestle. Barsky was born in Ukraine in 1974 and came to the United States when he was 6. His family moved from Italy to Brooklyn and to Staten Island, living in accommodations that his family’s sponsors set up. “My family immigrated here in 1980 with absolutely nothing, just like most Russian Jews,” Barky says. “We started with zero in this country, and my parents were able to find good jobs rather quickly—typical American Dream, no?” Barsky studied mechanical engineering at Polytechnic University on Long Island. Though mechanical engineering is all about tools and machinery, there is also a design element. Even so, it wasn’t enough to keep Barsky interested, so he headed to Madison Avenue where he worked in marketing and advertising for 15 years. Most of his family works in areas that are tangentially related to art. His father,
who has retired from the printing industry, translates and publishes self-help and instructional booklets for the Russian community. His mother is an architect, who switched to real estate, and his sister does package design in the cosmetics industry.
HE KNOWS WHAT HE LIKES
The Barsky Gallery occupies the former My-T-Fine Pudding factory, treading a nostalgic trail of coffee grounds and tea bags and marzipan and Tootsie Rolls and cupcakes and steel left by Hoboken’s time-honored manufacturing tradition. “When I renovated my space for the art gallery, I had to take out a very antique electrical switch panel that controlled the power to much of the first floor,” Barsky says. “Some of the switches were labeled ‘White Chocolate’ and ‘Dark Chocolate.’ I assume they provided power to the pudding-making machinery.” When I visited in midwinter, there were remnants from an exhibit of Russian art. Barsky met me at the door, and we chatted while viewing artworks
on a serene backdrop of white-and-gray walls. “I adopt the wall color to what’s showing,” Barsky says. “Dark grey walls create an environment.” Furniture does, too. He’s placed a couple of sofas in strategic places to get visitors to envision how a painting would look over a couch. The proliferation of modern high rises with lots of wall space means that both residents and decorators are on the lookout for original art that will grace those walls. The Russian art included oils, silkscreens, lithographs, etchings, watercolors, mixed media, acrylic, terracotta, and sculpture. A bronze sculpture by Ernst Neizvestny titled “The New Statue of Liberty,” at $18,000, is the most expensive piece in the gallery. The artist’s last name means “not famous.” Prices at Barsky start at about $500 for an etching. Barsky represents the Oklahoma painter Mark Yearwood whose abstracts are on display, featuring vivid textures and colors and natural elements inspired by western landscapes, such as those in New Mexico, where Native American culture is also an influence.
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Standing in front of a large canvas by UkrainianAmerican painter Natasha Pinchuk, Barsky invokes the “mystery and layers of thought” in the painting. Pinchuk interprets the urban environment, using a variety of paints and mixed media. Italian painter Margherita Martinelli uses a wide range of media, including watercolor and ink blotches to create vivid, saturated canvases. French photographer Fabrice Silly has achieved stunning images of the Hoboken train station by printing on aluminum.
A H OM E FO R A R T
Barsky lives on the Hoboken waterfront with his wife and two kids and says he loves the diversity of the town. He references local galleries he knew of when he was looking to open a gallery here. Lana Santorelli Gallery on Washington has closed. Pronto Gallery on Willow is still in business. Issyra Gallery has moved to the Neumann Leather building, and hob’art cooperative gallery is in the Monroe Center. There are others. In 2013 Barsky helped organize a gallery walk. (See our story in the Spring/Summer 2013 issue of this magazine.) A self-described entrepreneur, as well as lover of art, Barsky’s Mad Men chops have helped him promote the gallery as part of the art scene in Hoboken. Though he used to travel more, now he does much of his research online and makes skillful use of search engine optimization to attract potential buyers. One couple wandering through the gallery asked if they could hold a baby shower in the space. This opened an entire new business model for Barsky. Now he routinely holds cocktail receptions, birthday celebrations, anniversary parties, holiday gatherings, engagement parties, fundraisers, corporate meetings, rehearsal dinners, photo shoots, lectures, workshops, and fashion events in the space. At one of these events, Barsky says, “a couple purchased all three pieces that were hanging in the bathroom!” “I entered the gallery world as a means of personal self expression, to incorporate my strengths and the things I love,” Barsky says. “It allows me to be creative, work with my hands, apply my marketing and advertising experience, meet interesting people, and be surrounded by beautiful art all day. It also allows me to connect with residents and give back to the community I’ve lived in for 18 years.” —Kate Rounds
“Hold on Loosely” by Mark Yearwood
“Hoboken Terminal” by French photographer Fabrice Silly
BARSKY GALLERY
49 HARRISON ST. | 888-465-4949 BARSKYGALLERY.COM
“Noises 8” by Roman Lystvak
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Franchise PHENOM Joseph Andreula expands his kickboxing kingdom
I
t’s a Hoboken story of boy makes good. Joseph Andreula was born at St. Mary Hospital in 1975 and attended Calabro Elementary. He never graduated
from Saint Peter’s Prep because he felt that the courses he had to take there, such as calculus and history, would not help him in his chosen field. He knew even then what he
wanted to do, and began to sow the seeds for his business in Hoboken. An inveterate multi-tasker, he was a pizza delivery driver and a bar-back, taught Karate at the former Hoboken Karate Academy on First and Adams, and was a personal trainer at the Powerhouse Gym, where Planet Fitness is now located. He was also doing manual labor at a storage facility in the Monroe Center. He talked the landlord into letting him have a room rent free for a couple of months. He cleaned out the room and started a kickboxing operation. That was in 1997. “OK, that’s how we started,” Andreula says. “Being a personal trainer and teaching karate was too traditional and took too much time. At the Powerhouse it was very boring with treadmills and bikes and Stairmasters.” He made up a workout which was similar to the karate he was doing in his own basement while listening to the radio. “It wasn’t karate, it was karate conditioning,” he says. “It burned two or three times the amount of calories as a treadmill or Stairmaster.” His clients “love it and can’t wait for the next class,” he says. “No fighting, all fitness,” including the punching bag, sit-ups, calisthenics, squats, and pushups. Though the workout is designed for everyone, a whopping 70 percent of his clients are women.
Getting Their Kicks
JOSEPH ANDREULA PHOTO BY VICTOR M. RODRIGUEZ
30 • 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING 2015
He expanded the space in the Monroe Center from 2,000 to 5,700 square feet. But in 2005, other tenants started complaining about the noise in the wood-frame building, so he moved to his current 21,000square-foot location above ShopRite at 900 Madison. Andreula was well aware that something like 50 percent of businesses fail in their first five years. Nevertheless, by 2007 he was ready to franchise the operation. He now has 65 franchises either open or ready to lease in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, the Carolinas, Virginia, Seattle, and California.
Though he has no franchises in the middle of the country yet, he has Starbucks-sized dreams, aiming to go worldwide. It’s a far cry from his early jack-ofall-trades days when, he says, “I had absolutely no money, and my only goal was making a living.” Entrepreneurship is in his DNA. “My father had a candy story on Ninth and Washington Street, where Asian Sushi now is” he says. Andreula recalls watching workers put up the Breyers Ice Cream sign, which is still there. “It was a big deal,” he says. “It was heavy, and the drilling was loud.” The elder Andreula was one of the first to replace a pinball machine with an electronic video game. When he brought Space Invaders to his store in 1980, the move made the Wall Street Journal . Like father, like son. “I had an entrepreneurial mindset,” Andreula says. “I always thought that way. Working for people was unnatural. I had my own ideas.” When Andreula told me, “Nobody in our family has a job,” I thought he was kidding. It turns out that owning your own business is not the same as having a job. And in fact, most of his family has
Clifton franchise.
PHOTOS BY JOHNARCARA.COM
PHOTO BY VICTOR M. RODRIGUEZ
07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING 2015 •
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worked for him, including his three younger brothers and his mother. On the day I visited,
“
cal and entrepreneurial prowess. He’s not musclebound, has a very light hand-
I had an entrepreneurial mindset.
his brother Mike, the head trainer for the entire organization, was running a session, and his mother was working the desk.
Sting Like a Bee Walk into CKO Kickboxing, and the energy is palpable. Along the walls of the stairway are the many newspaper and magazine stories about CKO displayed in large frames. Inside you’re hit with the sounds of punching bags, grunts of the students, and the trainers’ instructions, amplified by a hands-free mic. Andreula is not an overpowering presence, despite his physi-
– Joe Andreula shake, and speaks softly, often looking away to monitor what’s going on in the gym. The high-energy vibe coexists with a bumble-bee motif. The huge space is painted in very bright yellow with black accents. Andreula said he chose the color scheme because he’d seen it on publicity materials for a very elite organization. “You work at your own pace,” Andreula says. Students supply their own gloves, and everyone uses a separate bag. The hourlong workout allows time for stretching at the end. After surveying the kickboxing space, we go upstairs to the weight room. Again, it is vast
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but without the bright colors. Andreula prides himself on the fact that no one ever has to wait for a machine or a set of weights. If you didn’t notice when you came in, Andreula will point out another distinctive feature: there are no mirrors, the implication being that this is a space for improving mind and body, not for preening and self-aggrandizement. Indeed, he sees kickbox-fitness as a mind/body discipline. “It relieves stress and tension when you punch something,” he says. “You can’t just tell yourself to calm down, but when you punch the bag, it feels great. I see people who come in and look like they want to kill someone, but after an hour it’s like having the cheapest therapy.” (The fee is $72 a month.) He says CKO’s workouts offer “so much more than going to a therapist. It helps people mentally. It’s almost like medication for some of them.”
The Business End Andreula logs 25,000 miles a year driving to franchises, and flies to the ones that are on the West Coast. But he still considers Hoboken his home base and is proud of the 21,000 square feet that the Hoboken franchise boasts. He also has a location at 127 Grand. Though he’s shown himself to be a savvy businessman, he is not looking for business acumen in the folks who run his gyms. He’s into “self-improvement, progress, and empowering people. I look for the right person who likes to help other people rather than somebody who just wants to do business. They can’t sit in the office with a calculator.” CKO Kickboxing has been ranked in the Franchise 500 by Entrepreneur Magazine since 2012. Andreula has other ideas for businesses. “But this is the dominant one,” he says, “the one I’m most passionate about.” —Kate Rounds
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The legendary night spot harmonizes old and new W
alking through the bar and grill area of Maxwell’s Tavern, you would never suspect that there’s a rock show about 50 feet away. The room is a bit noisy with chattering guests enjoying the upscale pub atmosphere, but it’s hard to believe that a sold-out concert is under way in the back room. On the bill are Deaf Rhino, Born Cages, and Face the King, each an up-and-coming rock band that plays original songs. In that way the show harkens back to Maxwell’s heyday more than the cover bands, DJ sets, and trivia nights of the recent past do.
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At first glance the back room looks much like it did under the previous ownership, but there are marked differences. “It’s less grimy. I don’t know if that’s necessarily a good thing,” Vlad Holiday, singer and guitarist of opening band Born Cages, says with a grin. Holiday says that the sound quality has improved dramatically post renovation. Every lyric and note were clear despite the booming, rock-and-roll volume.
EMERGING 07030
Holiday’s band had its first headlining show several years ago at the old Maxwell’s. Born Cages has an edgy alternative rock sound that’s a little grittier than the jazz and blues-inflected style that the new Maxwell’s seems to be leaning toward. Though he hadn’t performed at the old Maxwell’s, Adam Schlett, lead singer and rhythm guitarist of headlining band Deaf Rhino, had been a patron and also noticed the audio improvements. “The new PA was great,” he says. “We are a loud band and having a sound crew that can have it all make sense in a smaller room really is the difference for a great audience experience. Tip of the cap to the engineers.” Sound engineer Jon Taylor says, “The system that they had in place was like trying to light a birthday candle with a blow torch.”
BORN CAGES
Matt Maroulakos
Vlad Holiday
Taylor took everything out and built something more sophisticated. The rebuilt sound system is specially designed to enhance the sounds of jazz.
THE MORE THINGS CHANGE Cara Marceante, who came out to see Born Cages, said, “It looks pretty much the same inside, but they took the bleachers out.” She considers that a good thing, “My drunk friend once fell and hit her head on them.” Removing the bleacher seating freed up standing room for rock shows. It also allowed for the addition of tables for
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EMERGING 07030
mellower sit-down events like acoustic performances, comedy shows, and kid-friendly concerts. When the room is set up with table seating, it has an intimate club ambiance. Schlett echoed the sentiments of some club goers. “It feels more open with the bleachers removed,” he says. “The art on the walls is actually really nice. Our shows tend to be on the crazier side so some of the aesthetics can be lost on the audience, but we really enjoy an intimate room with some character and some flavor.” The art is curated by Steven Vizena, a local visual artist. He takes submissions for themed art shows that rotate month to month. The project is designed to connect members of the arts community and stimulate the senses, but when Deaf Rhino took the stage and the room filled nearly to capacity, all eyes were faced forward.
DEAF RHINO
Adam Schlett
BURNISHING THE LEGEND Deaf Rhino fan and Hoboken resident Dan Aitkens was excited to see one of his favorite bands play within walking distance of his home. The show was the first he’d attended at Maxwell’s and in Hoboken. “I hope that this is the beginning of Hoboken’s music scene resurgence,” he says. “Deaf Rhino’s ready to lead the charge. Music fans here are ready as well. Maxwell’s has the opportunity to carry the torch.” He describes the band’s sound as “Rock with hard-hitting energy and sexgroove undertones.”
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Left to right Bobby Weir, Adam Schett, and Tommy Scerbo
EMERGING 07030
Deaf Rhino engages the crowd with a lively performance and jokey stage banter between each song. The crowd dances, drinks, and yells back at the band. “It was a really nice feeling like we were playing in our club, and I think the fans will eventually identify with Maxwell’s in that same way,” Schlett says. Dave Entwistle, the club’s booking agent, lets us know what we can look forward to when it comes to future events: local, regional and national bands of every music genre will take the stage at Maxwell’s. “The club’s proximity to Manhattan has also enabled it to be a venue of choice for touring bands,” he says. “We are providing a great environment for original bands to play in with a great stage and the best sound system in Hoboken. It’s a symbiotic relationship between the venue and the bands that gives the audiences a great live music experience.” The renovation included the addition of large screens mounted on each side of the stage, which can display band logos or feature videos or images that connect to the music that’s being performed. Large lights strobed along with the music as well. All the new details come together to make the venue feel more polished, but enough of the old Maxwell’s remains, so the club can hold on to its legacy.—07030 For more information and a schedule of upcoming events, check maxwellsnj.com.
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Apple Montessori’s extended family
PHOTOS BY PETER SHARP
Clever Clan FAMILY WHO BELIEVES THAT
PINT-SIZE KIDS HAVE OUT-SIZE LEARNING SKILLS OPENS A
SECOND HOBOKEN SCHOOL
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M
any of us would have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the family business, but not this brood. Jane and Rex Bailey brought up four daughters, all of whom are working in the educational organization their parents founded in 1972. As a Montessori teacher who emigrated from Scotland, Jane already knew that children learn more easily from infancy to age 6. Unhappy with the traditional approach to learning and motivated by her own young children, she opened one of the first Montessori schools in northern New Jersey. Rex Bailey, two-term president of the Kinnelon Board of Education, joined his wife in founding Apple Montessori. The daughters, Pamela Howarth, Lynn Morris-Piccolo, Joanne Mooney, and Vanessa Krippner,
EDUCATION 07030
From left are sisters Joanne Mooney, Lynn Morris-Piccolo, Pamela Howarth, and Vanessa Krippner. Seated are Rex and Jane Bailey.
“ We need more space to meet the needs of the children of Hoboken.” —Vanessa Krippner.
joined in the early 1990s, expanding the three original locations to the current 18. The last one, which is slated to open on July 1, is the second Apple Montessori School in Hoboken. All 13 of their children are Apple Montessori graduates, and a number of in-laws are involved with the organization. Apple Montessori Schools and Summer Camps educate nearly 2,000 students a year and boast more than 400 employees. The summer camp offers the Apple Montessori educational program, along with traditional camp activities, such as swimming and arts and crafts. Vanessa Krippner, youngest of the four daughters, is executive coordinator for all the schools. “The key components of the method are hands-on learning and children going at their own pace,” she says. “We allow a child to move along to foster a love of learning, but we make sure they are comfortable; we don’t hold
back, push, or skip over anything.” Apple Montessori has its own reading program, computer enrichment, music, and art enrichment programs. The four sisters and their families still live in Kinnelon, where Krippner says they are raising the third generation. These “Nexters” are already demonstrating entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for the Apple education method. Six is an important number for the Apple educators. The students range in age from six weeks to six years, and in their Wayne school, students can attend through sixth grade. Hoboken’s Maxwell Place school is so popular that there is a waiting list. “We got a tremendous positive response,” Krippner says. “We need more space to meet the needs of the children of Hoboken.”
The new school on River Street will answer that need. “We just love Hoboken, the energy of the town,” Krippner says. “It is so multicultural and has that sophisticated city feeling in a suburban town. We’re excited to be here.”—Kate Rounds
Resources
Apple Montessori 1055 Maxwell Lane or
221 River St. (2nd building)
201.605 .7176
applemontessorischools.com
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C O N G R AT S EDITOR'S NOTE:
T
he Hoboken 07030 Fall/Winter 2014/15 cover story and layout, “What Henk Ovink Thinks,” won first place for feature story and magazine front cover from the Garden State Journalists Association. Congratulations to writer Amanda Staab, photographer Alyssa Bredin, and designer Terri Saulino Bish, and thanks to our readers and advertisers for their ongoing support.
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DATES Want your event listed? Please email us at 07030@hudsonreporter.com and put “07030 calendar listings” in the subject line.
ONGOING Tuesday Night Yoga, Pier A Park, , by Devotion Yoga. (201) 610-9642, devotionyoga.com. Classes in June, July, and August, except for July 14. In case of rain, some classes will be rescheduled. Free. Summer Enchanted Evenings Concert Series 2015, Sinatra Park, Sinatra Drive between Fourth and Fifth Streets. Performances 7-9 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Mimi Yoga, Sunrise Express Yoga, Pier A Park, 6:30-7:15 a.m. Tuesdays in JuneJuly 7. All levels welcome. Wear comfortable clothes. Bring your own mat and water. Fee: $25 for a six-week session. Family Yoga, formerly Mommy & Me Yoga, Pier A Park, Ages 2-6, 9-9:45 a.m. Tuesdays in June through July 7. Parent must accompany child. 15 openings. All levels welcome. Bring a towel or yoga mat. Little yogis will stretch, breathe, move, and have fun as they learn basic yoga poses alongside mom! Your little one will build gross motor skills. Fee: $25 for six-week session Fitness Under the 14th Street Viaduct, between Grand and Clinton Streets, Wednesdays 6:30-7:30 p.m. Each week there will be an introductory class sponsored by a different local fitness establishment. Be sure to wear sneakers and loose-fitting clothing. Bring your own mat if needed and water. Free. Pilates, Maxwell Place Pier at Sinatra Drive and 12th Street, by The Angel Method, Saturdays 9-10 a.m. June 6 through July 18, excluding July 4. Wear close-fitting clothing. 30 openings. Bring
water, yoga mat and small towel. Fee: $25 per six-week session. Salsa in the Park, presented by Fitness Meets Dance Studio, Sinatra Park, Fridays 7-7:45 p.m. There are two-four-week sessions of either: Absolute Beginner in July or Advanced Beginner in August. Learn fundamental skills: footwork, head, arm, body movement, salsa patterns and partner work. No partner needed! Fee: $25 per four-week session. Art in the Park, a sixweek creative arts program for toddlers, ages 4 and under. There are eight-six-week sessions. Sessions take place on different days, in different parks, at different times. Choose either Pier A Park or Elysian Park early morning 9-10:30 a.m.; or mid-morning 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; Pier A Park Monday from June 15 through July 20; Wednesday from June 17 through July 22; Elysian Park Tuesday from June 16 through July 21; Thursday from June 18 through July 23. Each session will accept 60 children. Child must be accompanied by parent or guardian. Dress appropriately for painting and clay stains. Call (201) 420-2207. Fee per six-week session: $25. Fitness at Pier A Park, First Street and Frank Sinatra Drive, Mondays 7-8 p.m. Introductory classes each week sponsored by different local fitness establishments. Wear sneakers and loose-fitting clothing. Bring your own mat if needed and water. Free. Movies Under the Stars, presented by Projected Images of Hudson County and the village
see page 65
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07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING 2015 •
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VINNIE JOHNSON THE KEEPER OF THE BLEACHERS
W
hen you go to a baseball game at JFK Stadium, you’re probably praying your kid won’t strike out. You’re not worried about the turf, the base paths, or the backstop. But someone’s got to, and that someone is head custodian Vinnie Johnson. He and a staff of three do year-round maintenance, which changes depending on the sport. “I’m head man in charge of the stadium,” he says. “We fix the fields for events.” The largest stadium in town, JFK is managed by the board of education and serves girls’ and boys’ sports, including baseball, football, soccer, and softball.
ON THE
JOB
WITH 42 • 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SUMMER 2015
Though Johnson was born at the timehonored Margaret Hague Maternity Hospital in Jersey City, which closed in 1979, he was brought up in the Jackson projects in Hoboken and graduated from Hoboken High School. He attended Ramapo College and wanted to major in business, but it was not to be. His parents couldn’t afford to keep him in school. In any case, he says, “I was a young guy trying to find myself.” It turns out he did find himself, at age 23, when he accepted the job as stadium custodian. This year marks his 30th anniversary on the job. But there’s way more to the job than minding the gridiron and the goal posts. “I love high school sports,” he says. “I love all sports, but my real passion is coaching girls’ softball.” As those who have seen his championship teams know, he found his niche coaching women and girls. At age 17, he coached his mom who played in the Housing Authority Women’s League. “She was pretty good,” he says. “Wherever you put her, she was good at it all, but the best was her hitting.” The Johnson family is well-known in the Hoboken sports world. Johnson was a pretty good football player back in the day and was a volunteer assistant football coach for many years. He has 10 siblings. His brothers played football and basketball in Hoboken,
“I love high school sports,”
he says. “I love all sports, but my real passion is coaching girls’ softball.”
07030 HOBOKEN ~ SUMMER 2015 •
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ON THE JOB WITH 07030
Photo of champs by Annette Davis
Opening day of softball April 2015 at Mama Johnson Field. Photos by Annette Davis.
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ON THE JOB WITH 07030
Signs of triumph
and Mama Johnson Field in the projects was named for his mother, Mary Elizabeth, who died in 2005. “She was a very popular woman in the community,” Johnson says. “She got me to coach. She told me I was good at it, and to stick with it, and I did ever since.” Over the years, Johnson has seen a number of changes in women’s softball. “It’s a lot faster now,” he says. “The women are faster and stronger.” But what really pleases Johnson are the economic advances in women’s sports. That he had to drop out of college is a fact that resonates in his life story. Things turned out well for him, but they don’t for everyone. “They’re giving out scholarships big time,” he says, “full rides to ladies involved in softball. That to me is great. It’s so important for decent athletes who can’t afford college. When that happens I did my job. I make sure I take girls who are not as fortunate.” There are opportunities for women to play in Europe, Japan, and the States. The RBI program, which stands for Rehabilitating Baseball in the InnerCities, is also becoming really big. Johnson got Hoboken Recreation to sponsor an RBI league that enables its
All-Star team to play in the RBI Regionals with a berth to the World Series on the line. The Hoboken Shockers, essentially a Hudson County All-Star team, has qualified for the RBI World Series several times over the last few years. Teams get airfare, accommodations, and food paid for when they attend championship series. Johnson’s team went to Minnesota three years in a row. Last year they went to Texas and were knocked out by the team that eventually won. Johnson is also head coach of the Hoboken High School softball team, which won the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group1 title last year, Johnson’s first as a head coach. For 29 years, Johnson has volunteered as a coach. It has only been in the last year that he was paid after earning an associate degree and 60 credits. “Getting paid is not a big deal,” he says. What is a big deal is helping kids who come from poor families. “Some kids don’t even have a jacket,” he says. “I make sure that they have jackets and winter coats.” Johnson is doing what he enjoys. He says, “God willing I can do it a lot longer.”—Kate Rounds
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07030 HOBOKEN ~ SUMMER 2015 •
45
HELPING
IT’S BAAACK! PHOTOS BY VICTOR M. RODRIGUEZ
Of
course, the YMCA never really left. One of the oldest service organizations around, the national entity was founded in 1844. At the Hoboken Y—whose full name is Hoboken-North Hudson YMCA—you can still see the words “Women’s Department” and “Men’s Department” etched into the granite on the façade of the building at 1301 Washington St. Most people are familiar with the Y for its recreational programs. Folks belong to Ys all over the Tri-State area in much the same way they would belong to a gym or a fitness center. That’s why, when the recreational portion of the facility was closed in 2010
46 • 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING 2015
due to lack of funding to make renovations, lots of folks thought it was RIP for the YMCA. Far from it. One of the missions of the original Y was to provide “low-cost housing in a safe Christian environment” for rural youth who were finding their way in industrialized cities. Providing low-cost housing is still an imperative for the Y. In March 2013 it unveiled 96 new, affordable, climate-controlled, single-room-occupancy units, geared toward single men who are homeless or unable to secure affordable housing. The design of the building does not allow enough separation to accommodate women.
Renovations to the building included a new elevator for the residence and the addition of a fifth floor. Each floor has residential rooms and communal bathrooms. Former board president Paul Somerville describes the housing and recreational aspects as two parts of a broader mission. The Y saw to the housing mission first because, says Somerville, “The last thing we wanted was to make people homeless. That would be tragic.” Kenneth Nilsen, who has been president of the board since 2013, is the dean of students at Stevens Institute of Technology and has lived in Hoboken 21 years. He says that with full occupancy, the very
RESIDENT TIMOTHY GOLDING
important housing part of the mission has been satisfied. All 96 available beds are occupied, depending on the day of the month. Amenities include dressers, closets, and access to bathrooms, showers, and laundry facilities. Rental rates range between from just under $500 a month to about $650 a month. The men undergo a background check and must prove they have the financial wherewithal to pay the bill. The Y works with county agencies, nonprofits, and the Veterans Administration to get referrals. It also works closely with Jaclyn Cherubini, executive director of the Hoboken Shelter, to find individuals in need of a 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING 2015 •
47
clean place to live that’s warm in winter and cool in summer. (See our story on the shelter in the Fall & Winter 2014/15 issue of the magazine.) “They come to our facility from all different backgrounds,” Nilsen says. “We do not judge. We just provide a safe home for individuals in need.”
Let the Fun Begin Now that the Y has a full house, it can concentrate on its other mission—providing recreation and serving the community. “Our goal is to spend this year looking for support to bring back the YMCA recreational and community center programs,” says Nilsen. “The
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goal is to be a facility for the Hoboken community for any age—moms, dads, kids, classes for parents and children, teenagers, educational programs geared toward different ages.” Since not all kids are into sports, there will also be programs such as drama and art. Among the demographic being served are seniors who will participate in the Silver Sneakers program. But a lot depends on what the community wants. “We will refigure and redesign the space to meet the city’s needs,” Nilsen says. “The Y will begin outreach to the community to see what services they are looking for. The biggest feat will be to find resources to do the renovations.” He
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says long-range thinking is important. “Five years from now there may be new types of people and new services.” Right now, for example, he says that many older people need educational courses on the uses of technology and social media, such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, and Pinterest. Nilsen emphasizes that the North Hudson in the title means Weehawken, Union City, and North Bergen. “These are different kinds of towns,” he says. “We may be going to other facilities to offer programs. You don’t need brick and mortar to reinvent the Y.” One thing that the Y will always be is a comfortable space for everyone. “There is no right way to look, act, and dress,” Nilsen says. “Everyone is welcome.”— Kate Rounds 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING 2015 •
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BUSINESSES MAKE HOBOKEN WORK
BY KATE ROUNDS PHOTOS BY ALYSSA BREDIN
RUBEN HENRIQUEZ
WISE VISION AND HEARING 334 Washington St. (201) 792-5100 wisevisiononline.com
T
his store’s distinctive logo features an owl. Not surprising since owls have huge eyes and are considered wise. Owner Ruben Henriquez studied business administration at Montclair State, but when a friend from Memorial High School in West New York became an optician, it set the wheels in motion. They became partners and opened an optical store in 1977 in North Bergen. By the 1980s Henriquez’s ambition was to open a chain of optical stores. Soon they would have eight stores. Later, when the two parted ways, Henriquez decided to scale down, while at the same time upping his optical cred by becoming an optician himself. Later still, he doubled his entrepreneurial power by becoming an audio specialist as well. Now, he has just two stores, the Washington Street locale, and Wise Hearing at 600 Broadway in Bayonne. “I had so many stores and hired so many opticians, I decided to become an optician so that I could manage the business better,” he says. “I wanted to be hands-on and provide a better quality of eye care. The eyewear business is almost like a fashion industry,” while at the same time promoting eye health. “We have great optometric equipment that can take pictures of the retina,” he says.
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Henriquez acknowledges that with chains like Lenscrafters, competition is stiff. “It’s good for us; it keeps us on our toes,” he says. “You lose quality and personal service when you get bigger. We want to be different from chains and provide better personal service.” Online shopping has also made them more price conscious. “We adjust our prices so they are in line with what you can get online,” he says. Henriquez also became very interested in the audio sector of the business. “I’m not a doctor, but it’s health oriented, and yes, personal,” he says. “It’s one-on-one dispensing the hearing instrument that is best for the customer.” He notes that the term “hearing aid” is no longer au courant. “Hearing instruments are like computers now,” he says. “They’ve made strides in the last three years.” Fitting a person with one is labor intensive. “It takes a lot of work with the person to program the hearing instrument,” Henriquez says. “You have to customize the device for that person.” Things have changed a lot since 1997 when 51-year-old President Bill Clinton made headlines when he was fitted with two hearing aids. It was a sign that the boomers were finally aging, a stigma that does not hold true for “designer eyewear.” “People are in denial and think they don’t have a hearing loss; everyone else is just mumbling,” Henriquez says. “The hearing instruments we use now help get away from that stigma. It’s a joy to be able to help people hear better, communicate better, and have a better quality of life.”
DANIELA GODOY, EDUARDO MEDINA, PABLO GODOY AND DANIEL MATOS
RIGHT ANGLE 320 Washington St. (201) 420-8262 1108 Washington St. (201) 942-9220 rightanglehoboken.com
If
you have an emergency picture-framing issue, you’re in luck. Right Angle has shops uptown and downtown, convenient to just about anybody in Hoboken. Owner Pablo Godoy has been in the framing business in town since 1983, occupying various sites until he settled at the two Washington Street locales. Godoy studied law in his native Argentina, a discipline that didn’t exactly square with his love of cooking, carpentry, and art. He was spending long hours as the manager of a restaurant when he walked by the original Right Angle, which had a “Help Wanted” sign in the window. “I didn’t have a background in framing whatsoever,” he says, “but I loved carpentry.” He was given a test, which he passed, and started working part-time while being formally trained in the business. “I learned about preservation, conservation, and new techniques about framing,” he recalls. The business is not just about paintings and photography. It’s also about history. “Sometimes we have customers with old documents or signed notes,” Godoy says. “We have to follow conservation standards from the Library of Congress. You have to have training and experience to handle those items.” They also get artwork that needs to be restored and preserved, requiring special acid-free materials.
Sports memorabilia is another popular framing item. Godoy warns that if you have a jersey with a faded signature, it’s impossible to bring the signature back. He cites the example of a customer with a very collectible John Elway signature. However, there are safe ways to mount the jersey. “Never glue it or staple it to a board,” he says. “We use plastic pins that are attached with a special gun, so that you can remove the item without compromising the value.” Speaking of bigwigs, Godoy has done huge framing jobs for Steven Spielberg for his DreamWorks studio and his apartment. Twelve movie posters were delivered to the shop for framing. “When I was walking to his apartment I passed all these frame shops on 72nd Street,” he recalls. Godoy felt proud that his shop in Hoboken was selected over many New York City framers. Right Angle also displays artwork. Disdaining the “fake posters and paintings in malls,” he shows only the work of local artists. “I provide a venue to showcase their work,” he says. “I know who they are, and I like to work with them.” He particularly liked a 40” by 60” oil of cherry blossoms displayed in his window at the time of the interview. “Sometimes art galleries are intimidating,” he says, “but everyone should have access to fine art by walking on the street.” He says that entering his shop is an experience. Customers don’t just buy a frame and walk away. “You have to be careful what music you play, what candles you burn,” he says. “In school they taught us that if somebody is framing something, it’s because they love it, and they want the item to last.”
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HOW WE WORK JCM
JULIE INSOGNA AND CORINNE FLEMING
PRIME CYCLE 1025 Maxwell Lane (201) 795-0900 primecycle.com
W
ho knew that pedaling in place would become such a fitness craze? Yep. I’m talking about indoor cycling. Some may know it as “spinning,” but that’s “Spinning ® with a little “r” after the name, which describes a particular brand of indoor cycling. OK, back in the saddle. Prime Cycle, an indoor cycling (not spinning) studio, opened in the Maxwell Place development in Hoboken in September, 2014. It’s a “dedicated” cycling studio, according to General Manager Dan Kim. That means no yoga, no Pilates, no TRX, no staring at your muscles in the mirror. Just—cycling. Six instructors offer 45-minute sessions during the week and hour-long sessions on weekends. Class times accommodate fulltime workers, and a morning childcare service accommodates parents. You can pay by the session or buy packages, which lowers the price. The studio has a full locker room, and participants can rent cycling shoes. Instructors are trained in the Prime method, which emphasizes “core fundamentals,” says Kim. “It’s a rhythmbased ride, facilitating motion of the upper body while riding.” Moves such as “presses, tap backs, and side crunches engage the core and give a full body workout.”
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Anyone who has done indoor cycling knows that it’s great for the legs and lungs. These added exercises can strengthen the upper body as well. At Prime, each cyclist has two weights, so they can do “arm sequences” during the ride. Instructors at some if the trendier cycling studios in New York City often engage in a verbal back-and-forth with individual students during the ride, which can be embarrassing if you don’t want to be “called out” in the middle of the session. Others have screens at the front of the class which track each rider’s performance. Yikes! The Prime method does not embrace this kind of public praise or humiliation. Rather instructors use a software program that allows them to email stats to each student. “Some people like to compete with themselves,” Kim says. The studio, he says, has a theater atmosphere with dimmed lighting. Anyone can go to the cardio room in a gym, plug in the earphones, and ride alone, but indoor cycling provides a group experience that obviously appeals to a lot of people. Prime boasts 700 clients a week. Slightly more women than men attend classes, but Kim says that’s just because women pioneered the movement; more men are discovering indoor cycling. He points to local professional athletes who work out at Prime. (He’s not naming names.) “People work out at their own pace on their own terms,” Kim says. “Hoboken is a nice destination, and we try to be community friendly. People who haven’t worked out in 20 years say they’re losing weight, they’re not intimidated, and they enjoy the ride.”
HOW WE WORK JCM
ERNIE REYES
CITY PAINT AND HARDWARE 130 Washington St. (201) 659-0061 citypaintace.com
W
hen I call owner Ernie Reyes, it’s the day before a late-January blizzard was poised to dump three feet of snow on our area. “Run out of snow shovels?” I ask. Nope. “We have shovels and more coming today,” Reyes says. That’s the mom-and-pop aspect of the store that Reyes prides himself on. The store has been in the family since Reyes’s father bought it in 1978 when the young Reyes was 8. His father was manager of the Clam Broth House for 20 years. He wanted to go out on his own to open an electrical supply store, but when he went to the hardware store to buy items, they asked him if he wanted to buy the store. Back then, the store was only about a third of the size it is now. Reyes now has a staff of 15, many of whom have shown unusual company loyalty; the manager has been there 25 years, and the woman who runs the office, 22. And it’s still a family business. Aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins have all logged hours at the store. As you know from reading these pages, tons of folks here in town love the idea of restoring beautiful old brownstones, but it gets pretty pricey to hire a contractor for each little job. Enter City Paint and Hardware. “People want to do small projects themselves, and we can help,” Reyes says.
With the advent of factory loft living, the industrial feel became popular. “That’s the way things are going,” Reyes says, “the exposed rustic look. We have a lot of people using plumbing items not for plumbing. He points to 1 Republik, the bar across the street, that he says uses black pipe for handrails and door pulls. “After 9/11, there was a big change in demographic,” Reyes says. “It became a family town. We grow, adapt, and modernize with the times.” Ace Hardware has been a partner since the 1990s. “They helped us grow and computerize,” Reyes says. “They have warehouses all over the nation. During Sandy, we could drive up to the warehouse and get generators when nobody else did.” “When I was a kid I didn’t like the business,” Reyes says. “I wasn’t happy about it.” He went on to study biology and history at Rutgers, but somehow found himself back in the store. “I help people with their problems day in and day out every day,” Reyes says. “That’s amazing. You can’t find that in too many fields.” He has two girls, and a niece and a nephew. “I’d like to see it go to a third generation,” he says. I posit that people seem to love hardware stores. They “connect them with their childhood when mom and dad took them to the store,” he says. “It’s a little bit of Americana.” Reyes still has the old wooden library ladders with wheels that have been in the store since day one. Customers have offered as much as $500 for one. They’re not for sale.—07030
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B LOOM FI E LD
How We
street
THE CLARKS BY KATE ROUNDS
PHOTOS BY VICTOR M. RODRIGUEZ
C
hris Clark sounds like the dad in a really upbeat version of the movie Parenthood. He has four kids; he and his wife, April, have full-time jobs; and he talks about it all with a kind of manic joy. “April and I were engaged three weeks after going to lunch to discuss a kids rugby program we were both coaching,” he relates. That “rugby” appears in his email address is testament to his love for that sport. He and April have been married for 10 years. Chris is a principal at Covenant Asset Management, Chester, N.J. April teaches calculus and AP Statistics at Riverdell High School. While renovating their brownstone on Bloomfield Street, the family “lived like gypsies” for more than a year. “I knew that my wife and I had the relationship and vision to be able to live in not the best conditions,” Clark says. “We never stopped doing, never stopped living our lives.” Incredibly, the Clarks are only the third family to live in the house since it was built, circa 1865. On display are several maps of Hoboken from 1881 and 1904
54 • 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING 2015
HOW WE LIVE 07030
that include their home. In the beginning, they had a tenant on the top floor and were basically living in four rooms with one bathroom and no dishwasher. They increased the square footage by about 2,100 square feet and added a 22-foot extension in the rear. Now they have four bedrooms, three and a half baths, and modern amenities in the kitchen and bathrooms. During the renovation, Clark blogged at suburbanlyurban.com. Clark coined the phrase “SuburbanlyUrban” to describe Hoboken living, meaning “high convenience and low compromise.” He often works at home, going grocery shopping three or four times a week and taking kids to wrestling, soccer, golf, Brownies, Daisies, and other activities. They have two kids at Wallace Elementary and one at Brandt Primary. The baby is a year old.
The family is accustomed to doing things at the spur of the moment with friends— “‘come over right now, we’re sitting down to eat.’” In fact, with four kids, they “entertain a ton” at home and practice what Clark calls “DIY parenting” since most people don’t want to babysit four kids. When they are able to go out, they go to the kid-friendly Pilsener Haus & Biergarten and Margarita’s Pizza. The parents also like Dino and Harry’s and the Cuban. “Maybe in the next year we can get to Otto Stada for some octopus,” Clark says. During the renovation they spent part of the time in the suburbs. “In suburbia it’s friendships by appointment and logging two-hour commutes,” Clark says. “In Hoboken, you run into people by chance, you see people in the park, and can really build friendships. Hoboken has energy and convenience and a great community of people.” 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING 2015 •
55
How We
M AXWE LL place
THE FULLERS
PHOTOS BY KAJA BOLTON
I
t’s not the first time we’ve pressed our nose to the glass of Maxwell Place. And it probably won’t be the last since this waterfront complex attracts all kinds of people with diverse lifestyles. David and Shari Fuller were doing what a lot of folks who work in Manhattan do. They were looking to buy on the Upper West Side. They discovered pretty fast what a lot of you reading this probably already know: There just isn’t a lot of bang for the buck over there. Ironically, they were already renting at the Sovereign. David takes it from here:
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“Buildings on the Upper West Side within our budget were tiny co-ops with tiny kitchens and no parking.” Then, one day he and Shari had a light-bulb moment. “She was pregnant with our second child. We were walking along the promenade, and we said, ‘Hey, this is home. We like it here.’” It’s no surprise that their epiphany took place on the promenade. “People were walking with kids, there were runners, a sailing school, and views you wouldn’t get from the Upper West Side,” David says. They started looking, and the rest is history. They found a 2,000-suare-foot unit with—get this—a 1,200-foot terrace, on the seventh floor. “The terrace is an extension of the home,” David says. “It’s bigger than a lot of people’s apartments. We have lounge chairs and a planter. We have dinner out there
HOW WE LIVE 07030
when it’s nice in the summertime. The kids have a garden and grow lemons.” Inside the house, they have an open-style kitchen. “It’s the best part of the house,” David says. “There’s an island with chairs around it, and everybody convenes there.” David likes to cook. He even takes classes, so they set up the kitchen for entertaining. “I was able to influence the design of the kitchen,” David says. He installed a deeper sink and had a say in the choice of refrigerator, marble, backsplash, and wallpaper. Originally, the condo had two bedrooms and a den, which they converted into three bedrooms. “I absolutely love the huge walk-in closets,” David says. “Every room has massive closets. There are eight or nine closets in a three-bedroom house.”
Their designer, Jenny Madden, helped them create a dining room space with a round, concrete, childproof table that comfortably seats six. The unit has two and a half baths. Transportation to the city is a breeze. They either take the ferry, which is a block away, or take the Maxwell Place jitney to the PATH, a 10-minute ride. David and Shari were attracted by the “creature comforts” at Maxwell Place, which include a gym with physical fitness offerings, such as spinning and yoga classes. They have two sons, Dillon, age 10, and—wait ‘til you hear this—Hudson, age 5. “We’re between Hudson Street and the Hudson River,” David explains. “It was either that or Washington.”— 07030 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING 2015 •
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c o r n e r s t o n e
ARCHIVES 07030
Antlers? Esteemed Knights? Grand Lodges? Must be the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks
Laying of the cornerstone, July 31, 1905
Elks Club, c 1906
By Kate Rounds Photos courtesy of the Elks Club
I
t’s hard to miss it if you’re around 10th and Washington—the majestic statue of an elk that welcomes folks to Lodge 74 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. Kids are tempted to climb aboard, and adults, well, if you’re like me, you wonder, why an elk? Why not a badger or a dog or a dolphin? As it turns out, the elk just squeaked out over the buffalo. The group was established in 1868 as an after-hours club for New Yorkarea actors, known as the Jolly Corks. When it took on the role of a service organization, its members, seeking “a readily identifiable creature of stature, indigenous to America,” voted eight to seven in favor of the elk over the buffalo.
Groundbreaking ceremony
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ARCHIVES 07030
The group has managed to maintain its loftily quaint anachronisms, such as Esteemed Loyal Knight and Exalted Ruler. Longtime member Rick Gerbehy is the former Lodge Secretary. A history teacher, he is also the organization’s historian. He remembers sneaking in as a kid, when the lodge had one of the best pool tables in town. He joined in 1980 and was Exalted Ruler from 1985 to 1986. Here’s his brief history of the organization.
Elk Tales The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks was formally organized in February 1868 in New York City, dedicated to the principals of charity, justice, brotherly love, and fidelity. Within 20 years, Elks lodges were found in most major cities of the United States. Many of the early lodge buildings were first-class hotels that catered to the needs of visiting Elk members. In 1888, the Robert Wareing Benevolent Association, a local civic and fraternal organization in Hoboken, petitioned the Elks to become a lodge. Under the guidance of local musicians Charles Greer, a member of the Syracuse Lodge #31, and Rounsville Williams of Providence Lodge #14, the Hoboken Elks were established. In January 1888, Charles P. Gross was elected the first Exalted Ruler of Hoboken Elks Lodge #74. In its early stages, the Hoboken Lodge met at Cronheim’s Theater and in the clubrooms of the Quartette Club. As the club grew, members sought a suitable location for a lodge, eventually securing property at 1005 Washington St. The fundraising efforts of member A.J. Demarest garnered more than $15,000 for the building fund. The lodge would be unique in its day; it would not include the hotel or lodging facilities that were common in lodge buildings of the era. The design of the facilities and meeting room were monitored by the Grand Lodge. Hoboken Lodge #74 would become a model for many of the new lodges in smaller cities across the nation. On July 31, 1905, Exalted Ruler John J. Fallon presided over the cornerstone installation ceremony that included remarks by Arthur C. Moreland of #1 Lodge. The building, which was dedicated on June 16, 1906, included a
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Elks building postcard
meeting room, gymnasium, game room with card and billiard tables, and a first-class restaurant for members and their families. Bowling alleys were later added. The lodge has served as a center for charitable projects. It became a Red Cross bandage preparation site during World War I. From the early 1920s through the 1960s, the lodge hosted a “Handicapped Children” clinic that provided physical therapy and vocational training. The United Cerebral Palsy Chapter of Hudson County currently occupies the space that once housed the clinic. A Little League team and a Boy Scout troop are associated with the Elks. The lodge served as a community resource center after Hurricane Sandy. Of Hoboken’s many fraternal organizations, today only the Hoboken Elks Lodge remains active and in its original location.—07030
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Mile Square Theatre’s “Twelfth Night” in Sinatra Park. Photo by Mark Cirnigliaro
Arts
Uptown
TWO THEATER GROUPS MOVE TO A NEW STAGE BY ADRIANA RAMBAY FERNÁNDEZ
W
hen New York City is your neighbor, it’s hard to compete with the bright lights of Broadway, but Mile Square Theatre (MST) and Hoboken Children’s Theater (HCT) are thriving by offering intimate performances tailored to local audiences. The two groups joined forces last year and will occupy a brand new space in the Artisan building on 1408 Clinton St. “We are poised to bring a lot of energy to the neighborhood,” says Chris O’Connor, founder and artistic director of MST. Their new space is next to the viaduct, in an evolving area that boasts new residential buildings and businesses like a cooking school and a beer garden.
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Mile Square Theatre’s production of “Core Values.” Photo by Craig Wallace Dale
“Once we’re open, the street life will become quite lively,” O’Connor says during a tour of the space. He envisions street fairs, carnivals, and outdoor performances under the viaduct, in addition to classes and performances in the new space. “There is nothing better than rehearsing on the stage that you are performing on,” says Chase Leyner, founder and artistic director of Hoboken Children’s Theater. “We will have a home base that doesn’t feel like we are borrowing from someone else.” Leyner joins MST as educational director. Her programs include acting, dancing, and singing classes for grades K through 12 along with productions put on by the children who participate in the programs. When both groups operated out of the Monroe Center, they shared resources, scheduling work and seasons around each other.
New Mile Square Theatre Space at the Artisan. Photo by Adriana Rambay Fernandez. “We were always connected,” Leyner says. “They have a mission that involves education. I am a readymade educational arm for them.” Her husband works for MST as technical director.
From Outdoor to Intimate Settings When O’Connor created MST in 2003, he was surprised there weren’t more options for the performing arts. “The few theater companies that were here were working on a shoestring or semi-professional,” he says. “Given the fact that Hoboken is a tunnel away from
New York City there was a stigma about theater in Hudson County ... that it is amateurish or that it wasn’t New York theater.” He set about combating that stigma using his acting background and connections at the Mason Gross School of the Arts, where he was pursuing a Master’s in Directing at the time. “I had no money, no space, and had never raised a dime in my life,” O’Connor says. “I had to quickly educate myself in fundraising.” MST began with the “7th Inning Stretch,” a fundraiser that featured 10minute plays about baseball. The company held free outdoor performances of classical works on the waterfront at Frank Sinatra Park before moving to the Monroe Center in 2008. Hiring equity actors, attention to design, affordable ticket prices, involving community members, and choosing work that resonates with the audience are some of the things that keep audiences coming back.
Chris O’Connor, founder and artistic director, Mile Square Theatre. Photo by Adriana Rambay Fernandez. 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SUMMER 2015 •
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A production of the Hoboken Children’s Theater. Photo by Craig Wallace Dale An early production at Monroe was My Italy Story, by Joseph Gallo, which was set in Hoboken. “We brought in ... old Hoboken and new Hoboken in the same project,” O’Connor says.
Appealing to Families MST expanded to include plays for young audiences, starting with Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse in 2009. “Hoboken is a place for young families,” O’Connor says. “If we can do a quality play for young audiences ... then the parents will recognize that we know how to do theater.” Tracy Gavant, vice president of sales and marketing on the Board of Trustees, was in the audience for Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, with her two daughters. Her husband, who works in sports, was a fan of the 7th Inning Stretch play festival. It wasn’t long before she was asked to host a salon in her home, an intimate gathering of 20 to 30 people to watch a performance. “The core reason for doing the salon was to expose people to the quality of theater that we have right here in Hoboken,” says Gavant. “In my case it worked so effectively that they recruited
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me to the board. The performance was incredible. People were blown away.” Gavant’s daughters Maya, 14, and Carly, 10, are also part of the Hoboken Children’s Theater. “I have been a Hoboken Children’s Theater parent for 10 years,” says Gavant, who describes her daughters’ HCT training as life-changing. “The kids just adore it.” She says, “The merging of these two incredible organizations will only benefit the community.”
Creating a Hub for the Arts On a beautiful blue-sky afternoon, sunlight streamed in from the tall windows brightening the spacious second floor of the future Mile Square Theatre. Designed by Nastasi Architects, plans for the two-story space include a 130-seat proscenium theater, studio and rehearsal space, concession and reception areas, modular sections to accommodate dressing rooms, and an open courtyard for opening-night receptions. The space will also be available to community groups. “We are going to turn the Artisan into a first-class arts building,” O’Connor says.
“The architectural design is really beautiful. It is going to be an inviting space.” MST launched a million-dollar capital campaign. They’re seeking a $500,000 marquee naming sponsor from a family or corporate donor. While the theater is under construction, they’ve leased a space at Edge Lofts where educational programs continue, and are looking at a third space in the neighborhood. They continue to hold salons throughout Hoboken, producing Long Gone Daddy, by Joseph Gallo, which is about the parent culture in Hoboken. MST plans to open the new space to the public mid-to-late summer with a production of 7th Inning Stretch. “We are trying to create something that is going to build and develop culture in a bigger way,” O’Connor says.—07030
DATES 07030 from page 41 of Hoboken, co-sponsored by the Hudson County Division of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, Pier A Park, overlooking the Manhattan skyline, First Street and Frank Sinatra Drive. Wednesday nights in June, July, and August. Movies begin at 9 p.m. in June and July; and 8 p.m. in August unless otherwise noted. For best seating, come early. Blanket and lowback chair recommended. Picnics permitted but alcohol is prohibited and subject to a fine. In case of heavy rain or high winds, film presentation will be canceled. Canceled films may be rescheduled on Aug. 12 and Aug. 19 at 9:30 p.m. following the regularly scheduled film at 8 p.m. For updates, check hobokennj.org/departments/human-services/culturalaffairs/movies-underthe-stars.
The Hudson School’s Think Thursdays, educate and inform the over-18 crowd with a lecture and film series for adults, features guest speakers, local authors, and films covering a broad range of topics. Suggested donations: Hudson School family members $7; general public $10; students free. Hoboken Chamber of Commerce, various networking events, social breakfasts, lunches, and career development opportunities. For more information, call (201) 222-1100 or email info@hoboken chamber.com. Featured Talks, provided by Stevens Institute of Technology. Various, ongoing lectures and speakers series on historical events in and around Hoboken. For more information, go to hobokenmuseum.org. Mangia Hoboken,
Whatever your reasons are for leaving Hoboken for the ‘Burbs, we are here to help you every step of the way. 431 Springfield Avenue Summit, NJ 07901 908.277.1398 LoisSchneiderRealtor.com
see page 69
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VLADIMIR CAAMANO MATT RICHARDS
GREG RADIN
JAKE VEVERA
BRETT OSINOFF
SADINA BATTINOS
RICH CARUCCI
NEAL LYNCH
WHAT ARE YOU A COMEDIAN? Yes, as a matter of fact.
DAN FRIGOLETTE BY TARA RYAZANKSY PHOTOS BY MAXIM RYAZANSKY
T
he talented performers in our local comedy scene keep Hoboken laughing late into the night at monthly events. Comedians crack dirty jokes and spout witty observations in the back rooms of pubs throughout the year, but the town’s comedy world really comes alive each fall during the annual Hoboken Comedy Festival.
Comic Dan Frigolette created the festival in 2008 because he noticed a lack of entertainment options in the area. The weeklong event brings more than 50 entertainers to town and hosts outdoor stages and shows in various venues, including Willie McBride’s, Tilted Kilt, West Five Supper Club, Pilsener Haus Biergarten, and Maxwell’s Tavern. “I wanted to find a way to keep Hobokeners in town for a weekend,” Frigolette says. “We go to New York for everything; food, entertainment, dating,
work. I thought it would be nice to entice us to stay and have fun here.” Soon he noticed audience members coming in from Jersey City and beyond Hudson County to laugh along with him. Frigolette hoped to help launch the comedy careers of his peers through the comedy festival. His production company, Comma, D Productions, has worked with talents like Nate Bargatze (Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon), Yannis Pappas (Comedy Central), Sean Patton (Travel Channel), Christian Finnegan (Comedy Central), Andrew Schulz (Guy Code), and Akaash Singh (Wild N Out). Frigolette’s stage has also welcomed veterans of the industry like Hoboken legend Artie Lange and famous funnyman Carlos Mencia. Comedy Fest also has a humanitarian arm. In its four-year partnership with the Liberty Humane Society, thousands of dollars have been raised for needy animals. Frigolette has produced multiple benefits for the organization. His monthly @HobokenComedy event at Maxwell’s always ends with an opportunity for audience members to donate to the cause. “If I can hear your money hit the pitcher you’re an asshole,”joked comedian Matt Richards, who took the stage as comic and host of @HobokenComedy this January. The event brought in money that went toward food, cat litter, and medical care for adoptable pets. “Dan deserves accolades. Hoboken Comedy Fest is an amazing production. He built it from the ground up,” says Jessica Castellano, development manager of Liberty Humane Society, noting that last year the event raised more than double what it did the year before.
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Frigolette credits his rescue mutt Tess with connecting him with the society. AJ D
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RESOURCES The 2015 Hoboken Comedy Festival is Sept. 28-Oct. 4. For more information about the festival or about @HobokenComedy and the children’s improv classes, visit hobokencomedyfestival.org. To find out more about adoptable pets or to donate to Liberty Humane Society, visit LibertyHumane.org. WOW Comedy takes place the third Saturday of every month. Check facebook.com/wowcomedy for details.
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KIDDIE COMICS Frigolette’s newest venture is teaching a class in children’s improv comedy through the Hoboken Comedy Festival at Maxwell’s. This unique after-school activity combines theatrical and physical exercises while building confidence and team skills. Frigolette’s relaxed stage persona belies his early years as a shy kid, part of what inspired him to start the class. “Being silly constructively and in a group has so many benefits,” he says. “As a kid most of your silly time is countered by parental no’s and people telling you to calm down or grow up. We can focus our imaginations and use them to create amazing realities, fictional worlds, and characters. Not to mention the interpersonal skills we create by working in tight-knit groups with common goals.” Looking for some more adult humor? Alex Csedrick produces and hosts a monthly event called WOW Comedy at The Shannon Bar. The event has been bringing laughs to Hoboken for almost two years. Each show features about half a dozen opening comics and one headliner who performs a 30-minute set. Csedrik did standup at Hoboken Comedy Fest in 2014. “I felt like a rookie athlete being called up to the majors,” Csedrik says. “I was soaking it all in, watching how the comedians interact with the crowd, where and why they punched that word instead of this one.” But as a college professor with four years of teaching under his belt, it’s safe to say that he is more of a teacher than a student. His comfort in front of the WOW audience was cultivated in lecture halls at the six New Jersey colleges where he teaches English and creative writing. At one WOW Comedy event, the crowd enjoyed drink specials and a bit of audience participation as headliner Rich Carucci tried to set up a few people in the front row on dates. Carucci has been a fixture of the Hoboken comedy scene for more than a decade. He frequently performed at Danny’s Upstairs over the former Tutta Pasta which was owned by actor Danny Aiello. The openers are hilarious too, whether making jokes about current events or getting real about life in Hudson County. Hoboken-based comic Jim Dodge loves performing at WOW because he can joke about his hometown. “Local-flavor observations and jokes always get a strong response,” he says. “Anecdotes about endless parking problems and fines or how the Cake Boss unbelievably still has lines of tourists waiting two hours to get cannolis.” —07030
DATES 07030 from page 65 walking tours of historic and famous eateries in the village. For more information, and for large-group rates contact (201) 653-1500 or email info@hoboken foodtour.com. Family Fun Nights, free outdoor performances. Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. in June, July and August. Shipyard Park at 13th Street and McFeeley Drive. For information, contact Geri Fallo at (201) 420-2207. Guitar Circle, Symposia Bookstore, 510 Washington St., (201) 963-0909, symposia.us. Every Thursday at 8:30 p.m., jam with local guitar players in a casual, friendly atmosphere. Share your favorite songs and learn new ones. All playing levels and styles welcome. To register or for more info, contact Carlos at chaase@chdesign solutions.com. Resilience Paddle Sports and Youth Kayaking Programs, travel through estuaries and find creatures of the water. For kids in various age groups; young children attend with parent. Space is limited. Contact Noelle Thurlow at info@resilience adventures.com. Hoboken Summer Enchanted Evenings, concerts along the Hudson, Amphitheater at Sinatra Park, Sinatra Drive between Fourth and Fifth Streets, 7-9 p.m., (201) 420-2207. Free. Summer Concerts on the Hudson, Lincoln Harbor Park on the Weehawken Waterfront. For information, call (201) 716-4540. Free family-friendly concerts at 7 p.m. presented by Hudson Riverfront Performing Arts Center Inc. Hoboken Spoken Open Mic, bwe kafe, 1002 Washington St.,
(201) 683-0045, bwekafe.com. Every third Friday of the month 8:30-10 p.m. Family-friendly night of poetry, music, and other forms of soulful expression.
Hoboken Storybook Theatre, Elysian Park, 10th and Hudson Street, (201) 240-2207. Song, dance, poetry and drama for all ages presented by Tempest Productions, 1-3 p.m., rain or shine with a concession booth. Hudson Shakespeare Company, (973) 4497443. Summer performances in parks in Hoboken, Jersey City, and other locations. Visit website for complete schedule: hudson shakespeare.org. Free. Family Fun Nights at Shipyard Park, 13th Street and Constitution Way, outdoor performances offer fun for the whole family. Co-sponsored by the Applied Companies, Tuesday evenings 7-8 p.m., in June, July, and August. Free.
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MAY 16 Relay For Life of Hoboken, Pier A Park at 100 Sinatra Dr., 10 a.m. All are invited to join the 12th annual event supporting the American Cancer Society. Hoboken Irish Cultural Festival, Sinatra Park, 12-6 p.m., Irish music, step dancing, Irish food, crafts, activities for children: horse and carriage rides, pony rides, petting zoo, face painting, craft activities, inflatables, and more. Performances by McClean Ave. Band & Liam Brown & the Pounds.
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see page 81
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UNDER
the
overpass
A renaissance beneath the viaduct PHOTOS BY VICTOR M. RODRIGUEZ
B
rooklyn’s DUMBO really caught on. Most folks know that it stands for Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass. It was coined almost 40 years ago. The name stuck and now the area is a hub for the borough’s trendy art scene. A lot is also happening under Hoboken’s 14th Street viaduct. It has a name, NoVHo (Neighborhood North of the Viaduct in Hoboken). Unlike DUMBO, this is a tough sell. How about Down Under the Viaduct (DUV )? Down Under the Fourteenth Street Viaduct (DUFSV)? Under the Viaduct Overpass (UTVO)? Hmmm. Let’s table that for now. In December 2014 county and city officials cut the ribbon on a dog run, playground, basketball court, and roller hockey court on the far western reaches of 14th Street. Other plans call for an ice rink, open space for farmers’ markets, outdoor movies, and concerts, and eventually a full park.
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When you cross Willow on 14th and walk west, on the right you’ll find the spanking white Hertz car-rental franchise, Edge Loft apartments, Hudson Table cooking classes, the space where the new Mile Square Theatre is slated to open, and the elegant Minervini Vandermark architecture offices. The cobblestone street is lined with Victorian-style street lamps. At the end of the street is the new park with the
basketball court, playground, and dog run. Coming up on the opposite side is a warehouse, the strip mall with Adventures in Learning, San Giuseppe restaurant, and Koko Fit club. Then come the Bow Tie cinema and a contemporary office building, housing Harbor Mechanical Corp. When you’re under the viaduct and look up, you see a modern, industrial
WEST SIDE STORY 07030 grid of steel girders that make dramatic geometric patterns against the sun. It’s easy to imagine the vibe and energy of the new park in deep summer. But what to call it? Viaduct Park would work. You can picture Hobokenites just saying, “I’ll see you at the Viaduct.” Still, a trendy park needs a trendy name. I’m going for Life Under the Viaduct (LUV).—Kate Rounds
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Margaritaville on the
HUDSON
Pier 13 makes a splash
It
started 200 million years ago with sturgeon making their way from the Gulf of Mexico to the Hudson River, and ended with a crispy catfish taco from the Taco Truck on Pier 13. Talk about evolution! In fact, if your habitat happens to be the north Hoboken waterfront, you may have watched it happen. First, there were the walkway and the piers, boats in the marina, ferries steaming to and fro, and condos rising on the shoreline. Then, all of a sudden, there were the sights, sounds, scents, and the hot-time-summer-in-the-city feel of Pier 13. The idea was spawned with folks sitting around the pool at the Sovereign, the Shipyard’s luxury
rental property. Darren Conway and Rebecca Tarantino, partners in the hospitality firm Rway Group, were kicking around ideas with David Barry of Applied Development Company and Michael Barry of Applied Property Management. Applied owns the pier and the Shipyard complex. “We thought it would be great if there was some kind of crab house or crab shack with Maryland-style crabs, beer, and picnic tables,” recalls Conway. “We went to the drawing board to come up with an idea and make something happen. Conway and Tarantino are managing partners of Pier 13. When they weighed the cost of a full kitchen and the spoilage factor of shellfish, they hit on the obvious solution. “Food trucks are
the happening thing,” Conway says. Which turned out to be true. On any given summer day, the trucks are lined up, selling tacos, burgers, gourmet lobster rolls, pizza, hibachi items, dumplings, empanadas, New Orleans-style jambalaya, waffles, ice cream, frozen bananas, and more. The summer of 2015 will be Pier 13’s fourth season. “We gave it a shot, and we have a loyal following,” Conway says. “The first year we would see if it worked, spending a minimal amount of money. Every year we reinvented
PHOTO BY CARLO DAVIS
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ON THE WATERFRONT 07030 it and added something to the space. The first year was a trial, the second year was better, and last year was the breakout year. People noticed the space and came from all over, not just locally but as far south as Atlantic City and as far west as Pennsylvania.” He says that New Yorkers are exploiting the “staycation” concept by spending the day in Hoboken with a beach chair and a towel.
Sun and Stars The Pier 13 season, which runs from the second week in May until the second week in October, works well for a venue that is entirely outdoors. A beer trailer offers 20 different craft beers, homemade sangrias, frozen lemonade, daiquiris, pina coladas, and other frozen cocktails, as well wine and spirits.
The pier is not licensed for liquor beyond the boat house, but you can also buy liquor at the boat house. “Our demographic caters to everyone,” Conway says. “It’s an urban area with a city atmosphere, and not everyone has a backyard or a balcony. It’s mommies with strollers, dog walkers, people who come after work for food from a truck and a beer or wine, and kids playing board games.” The managers plan a lot of free activities, such as music on Thursday nights, pet adoption days, a caricaturist, a balloon guy, magician, kiddy DJ, a movie night with a big screen, lawn chairs, a popcorn machine, and warm peanuts. Also planned for the upcoming season is a flea market with local businesses and vendors who cater
PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN DIAZ
to a younger demographic, selling car seats, clothing, furniture, art, jewelry, dog treats, and baby items. They also plan to continue the farmers’ market, which they launched last fall, where local folks can sell their produce and products, such as olive oil, honey, jams, and pies. Taking full advantage of the existing boat club, Pier 13 is capitalizing on popular activities, such as standup paddle boarding, jet skiing, and kayaking, as well as the traditional sailing lessons. They’re targeting twenty-somethings and thirty-somethings who want to network and meet people instead of “drinking all day long.” Four years after Pier 13’s inception, Conway says, “It’s 100 percent what we thought it would be.” —Kate Rounds
PHOTO BY FERNANDO COELHO
PHOTO BY RYAN RAIA
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M
ention the word “clam” in Hoboken, and it is sure to evoke our town’s legendary love affair with this bivalve mollusk. In the 1930s, Joseph Yaccarino, an Italian immigrant whose family had settled in Hoboken, performed under the stage name Biggies. In 1941, he went corner to corner shucking raw clams from pails, eventually operating a pushcart, selling clams on the half shell for a nickel a piece. He recruited his son, Michael, known as Brother, into the business, opening Biggie’s Clam Bar in 1946. It is still housed in the original brick building at 318 Madison St. But another clam concern also figures in this story—the legendary Clam Broth House, which was founded in 1899 and demolished in 2004. In April 2012, a second Biggie’s Clam Bar
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opened at the site of the old Clam Broth House. That’s the one we visited on a Wednesday afternoon, between snowstorms, the week after the Super Bowl. Biggie’s prides itself on its diversity— of drinks, clientele, and food. That characteristic was certainly on display when we visited. Regulars were enjoying a quiet post-work drink at the bar, reading, chatting, and occasionally looking up at one of the 21 flat-screen TVs in the spacious room. At the same time, at the booths on the right-hand side were kids with their moms, enjoying an early supper. “Eleanor Rigby” and “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” played softly in the background. Each day of the week, Biggie’s features various drinks specials: Sangria Sunday, $5 margaritas on Monday, $2 Blue Moons on Tuesday, craft beer on
WATERING HOLE 07030
PHOTOS BY TERRI SAULINO BISH Downstairs, the Belvedere Lounge hosts private gatherings—everything from family birthday parties to corporate events. It can accommodate 50 guests, with customized packages for whatever the group is celebrating. When you visit Biggie’s, take a minute to walk to the back and look at the photos and paintings, which feature great vintage images of the old days, including the iconic pushcart with fresh clams on the half shell. —Kate Rounds Wednesdays, $2 Miller products on Thursday, happy hour on Fridays and Saturdays from 3 to 7 p.m., and another late-night happy hour from 10 to midnight. Basketball, soccer, hockey, and football games were all playing on the TVs. On Sundays, Mondays, and Thursdays, the bar features special football themes. There are 22 draft beers. Two aspects of the original Biggie’s are still on display: a focus on family and fresh seafood. “We offer quality service, excellent fresh seafood, and value for the customer,” says manager Mike Ranuro, son of owner Steve Ranuro. But just to be clear. Besides seafood, there are a range of chicken and meat entrees as well as soups, salads, pizza, sandwiches, burgers, sides, and desserts.
Biggie’s Clam Bar 36-42 Newark St. (201) 710-5520 biggiesclambar.com
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C
ould there be a restaurant more aptly named? This western-style eatery has a smokehouse aroma and several tables made from barrels filled with wine corks. It reportedly has the only indoor smoker in Hudson County. Other Western touches include vintage photographs of cowboys and cowgirls, and two gorgeous saddles, popular as props for pictures, which usually end up on social media. With the fresh wood and huge windows of its brand new façade, it’s hard to imagine a passerby not wanting to stop in and soak up the friendly vibes. Not to mention the beer. General Manager Chris Lowther is proud that all 50 brands are American made. Half are on tap. My thirst for a brew was outdone only by my indecision. Chris to the rescue with a beer flight—three small glasses with brands that best matched my preferences, in this case Allagash White, Sam Adams Cold Snap, and our local Hudson Pale Ale, brewed in North Bergen. They were all good, but I really liked the Allagash and Cold Snap. No matter, how can you go wrong?
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Though the huge bar can satisfy almost any customer, a house specialty is bourbon, with some 30 styles on hand. If cocktails are your thing, innovative “southern-craft” offerings include Texas Grapefruit, Moonshine Mule, Smoked Pineapple, and Georgia Porch. Check out the display of cowboy boots over the bar. By the way, just about everyone here is named Chris. Christine Thorne was behind the bar. What she doesn’t serve in a bottle or a beer mug comes in a Mason jar. If you order a Bloody Mary, it arrives with a long celery stalk for easy swizzling. The day we visited, a non-regulation basketball net was set up in honor of March Madness—a nice touch that showed how this place really aims to please by staying current with the latest sports events. Need I mention that there are 23 flatscreen TVs? The two dart boards are permanent. I don’t usually mention restrooms, but this one, with its gleaming-clean surfaces and modern fixtures, was a pretty nice place to go.
Out West Smokin’ Barrel is appropriately located on the west end of Hoboken, an up and coming area with new parks, stores, lofts, restaurants, and cultural offerings in the emerging hood under the viaduct. Chris Lowther says he’s heard rumors of a Trader Joe’s opening nearby. What he says was lacking, not only in Hoboken but in all of Hudson County, was a legitimate barbecue joint. Smokin’ Barrel’s “Hoboken” barbecue is as diverse as Hudson County itself, boasting a fusion of styles from around the country.
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Kris Sellers is the new chef. He chose our menu items for the evening. Before we get to the specifics, I should note, the portions are big—Texas-size big. Take the smoked brontosaurus short ribs, two pounds of cow, smoked for six hours! After two delicious bites it was off to the doggy bag for a coworkers’ husband, who was eagerly waiting. A really hefty platter of pulled-pork nachos was billed as a “starter,” but for most people, it would have been an entrée, with a couple of days of leftovers. The blackened shrimp skewers, and bacon wedges, glazed with a maple barbecue sauce, were portioned for regular-sized humans. The entrees came with sides of salad and baked beans, and what I really loved was the fresh cornbread, slathered with butter. Other fun stuff includes fried pickles, empanadas, wings, collard greens, salads, burgers, chicken, and salmon. These guys are at home on the range.—Kate Rounds Smokin’ Barrel 1313 Willow Ave. (201) 714-4222 smokinbarrelnj.com
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POINT&
SHOOT
PHOTO BY TERRI SAULINO BISH
PHOTO BY VICTOR M. RODRIGUEZ
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LEO’S GRANDEVOUS 200 Grand St. (201) 659-9467 leosgrandevous.com Since 1939, this Hoboken landmark has been tantalizing guests with old school Italian standards and contemporary specials. A variety of pasta, fresh fish, veal, and chicken dishes keeps the emphasis on great taste and homey charm. You haven’t been to Hoboken until you have eaten at Leo’s!!
LOUISE & JERRY’S
KOMEGASHI
KOMEGASHI TOO
103 Montgomery Street Jersey City (201) 433-4567 www.komegashi.com Located in Jersey City’s financial district, Komegashi offers fresh, well-presented sushi along with traditional Japanese favorites and an extensive selection of fresh shellfish. Locals and visitors from around the world find this a perfect spot to dine in casual elegance. Open seven days.
99 Pavonia Ave. Newport Financial Center Jersey City (201) 533-8888 www.komegashi.com Komegashi too offers an authentic Japanese dining experience with a spectacular view of the New York Skyline. The menu includes perfectly prepared sushi and sashimi, kaiseki, teriyaki, and tempura. Located on the river at Newport Financial Center, Komegashi too is open seven days.
329 Washington St. (201) 656-9698 Since 1958, Louise and Jerry’s has been a favorite family-run neighborhood bar. It prides itself on great bartenders, great beer, a busy pool table, and an amazing jukebox. If you’re looking for the perfect watering hole to share a drink with old friends or meet new ones, this Hoboken institution is the place for you.
THE RESTAURANTS AT NEWPORT J.C. Waterfront District newportnj.com Overlooking the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline is the most diverse dining destination on the New Jersey Gold Coast—The Restaurants at Newport. Located among the luxury apartments and office towers in the Newport section, The Restaurants at Newport include 12 fine establishments: Komegashi too, Dorrian’s, Raaz, Cosi, Confucius, Bertucci’s, Babo, Fire and Oak, Boca Grande Cantina, Michael Anthony’s, Skylark on the Hudson, and Loradella’s.
RAVAL 136 Newark Avenue Jersey City, NJ 07302 (201) 209-1099 Inspired by Barcelona's now thriving and edgy El Raval neighborhood, Raval Tapas Bar & Cocktail Lounge is adorned with custom lighting and flooring with a reclaimed charred wood feature wall, evoking a sexy mix of art, culture and Barcelona street life. Executive Chef, Michael Fiorianti and Chef de Cuisine, Ed Radich joined forces to create a modern Spanish menu of tapas, charcuterie, paella and much more.
SMOKIN BARREL 1313 Willow Ave. (201) 714-4222 Smokin Barrel® is our brand barbecue sports bar. Coming soon to Hoboken, the BBQ bar is the perfect choice for patrons seeking old-fashioned Southern comfort food paired with mouthwatering beer and liquor. If you’re in need of some down-home comfort, you can come satisfy your craving at Smokin Barrel®.
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DATES 07030 from page 69 School Chorus, Wallace Second Grade Chorus, Calabro School Chorus, Calabro School String Ensemble, Connors School Chorus, and The Wallace School Beginner Band.
JUNE 1 GoRow Time! with GoRow Training Studio, (201) 448-5769, gorow studios.com. All levels. Half rowing, specific weight training, broken up into three rounds with sportspecific static stretching.
5 Thursday Night Yoga, Maxwell Place Pier, “Glow & Flow Yoga” with Logan Kinney. Move and breathe through powerful yet relaxing yoga flow. Start with a body warmup, then building strength, and end with a final relaxation. Open to all experience levels.
6-7 Our Lady of Grace Night Fest, 6-10 p.m. under a tent in the Our Lady of Grace parking lot on Willow Avenue between Fourth and Fifth Streets. The fun continues with a Fun Fest on June 7 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in and around Church Square Park. For more information call (201) 659-0369 or go to olgfunfest.com.
7 18th Annual Secret Garden Tour, (201) 656-2240, hobokenmuseum.org, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Rain date June 14.) Guided tours of private, hidden Japanese Zen gardens, English cottage gardens, and a Moroccan courtyard. Funds will assist the Hoboken Garden Club. Tours run on the half hour, and last about two hours. Comfortable shoes are advised. Tickets: $25 for museum members and Hoboken Garden Club members, and for tickets purchased in advance; non-members pay $30 on the day of tour. To purchase, go to 1301 Hudson St., or call the Hoboken Historical Museum.
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CKO Kickboxing, CKO Fitness Kickboxing. Fullbody, action-centered, fitness workout. If rain, class held at 900 Madison St. (201) 963-7774, cko hobokenmadison.com.
StoryBook Theatre – There Are Monsters Everywhere, book by Mercer Mayer, presented by Tempest Productions, 2-4 p.m., Elysian Park, 10th and Hudson Streets. Learn how one boy gets those monsters running scared! Free.
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Pier A Park, First Street and Sinatra Drive, 7 p.m. Bring a picnic basket and blanket.
9 Yosi, lively children’s sing-along, 13th Street and McFeeley Drive, 7 p.m., yosimusic.com. Award-winning musician, Yosi performs original and traditional songs. From school and library events to regional music festivals, Yosi’s shows are whimsical, imaginative, and enthusiastic. “Super Kids Rock” won NPR: 2009’s Best Music For Kids, And Their Families, and 2010 Creative Child Preferred Choice Award; Winner of The National Parenting Center’s 2010 Seal of Approval.
11 Sinatra Idol Contest, featuring host Gary Simpson. 15 contestants will strut their stuff. Prizes awarded to the best Sinatra-style singers. In case of rain, event will take place at DeBaun Auditorium on the campus of Steven’s Institute of Technology Fifth and Hudson Street.
14 Sounds of Sinatra Weekend Finale, Sinatra Park, 6-8 p.m. featuring The Swingadelic Big Band and vocals by former Sinatra Idol winners. At 8 p.m., all weekend participants will join together to sing “New York, New York” with the band. New York skyline in the background with performances by past Sinatra Idol winners: Peter Cafasso, David Arellano, Greg Myers, Sean Reilly, James Anthony, Gabriel Russo and more.
20 1846 Hoboken Base Ball Game Re-enactment, One of Hoboken’s “100 Firsts” is hosting the first officially recorded, organized “base ball” game played under Alexander Joy Cartwright Jr.’s rules, on June 19, 1846. According to historical records, the New York Nine defeated Cartwright’s Knickerbockers, 23 to 1, in four innings at Hoboken’s Elysian Fields, which were located near the Hudson River, about where the former Maxwell House Plant was located. The museum will commemorate the event this year with a recreation of a mid-19th century game, at 1 p.m. (location TBD). The Hoboken Nine and the Flemington Neshanock will play by Cartwright’s rules for a competitive match.
The public is invited to come root, root, root for the home team! All ages are welcome. Admission is free. For information, go to hobokenmuseum.org.
21 Spring Family Fun Day, 124 p.m. Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson St., (201) 656-2240. Drop by for hands-on crafts, games, food, and entertainment for the whole family. A magician performs at 1 p.m. and 2:15 p.m., and families can make animal masks, do tag-team drawing, play penny pitch, magnet mania, constellation collaboration, and more. For information, go to hobo kenmuseum.org. Free.
23 Erin Lee & The Up Past Bedtime Band, erinleemusic.com. Erin’s original songs about loose teeth, lost baseballs, and other assorted joys and challenges of childhood have earned her national attention as one of the freshest, funniest, and insightful performers for kids... and of course, their parents.
26 ZenYoga by ZenSpace, 450 7th St, (201) 417-8077, zenspace studios.com. Emphasis on safe alignment and breath work. For absolute beginners breaking down basic poses into Vinyasa or flow style.
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CrossFIT Hoboken, fitness regime based on constantly varied, functional movements executed at high intensity. If rain, class held at 38 Jackson St. (800) 396-6705, crossfithoboken.com.
Sassy Cap Dance N’ Fitness, with Jeannine Severino Zumba Fitness. (530) 723-6313, sassycapdancenfitness.com. Dance, fitness, cardio party with Latin rhythms.
see page 82
12 Warrior Moon Vinyasa, with Kelly Naughton, (732) 547-3040, face book.com/yogativity, yogativity@gmail.com. Warrior-based and standing poses suitable for beginners; advanced yogis will be encouraged to hold poses longer; guided breathing and meditation.
12-13 Summer Sounds of Sinatra, citywide celebration. Sinatra-style singers perform at various locations around the Mile Square, including Pier A Park, Church Square Park, Sinatra Park, Multi Service Community Center, City Hall, Willie McBrides, Wicked Wolf, Little Town, Brass Rail, Finnegans, Northern Soul, and more locations TBA. Times and singers for each venue TBA.
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DATES 07030 from page 81
29-JULY 3 5th Annual Hoboken Bike Camp. Hoboken Family Alliance sponsoring an event to teach individuals with disabilities how to ride two-wheel bicycles at Hoboken High School. For information go to hobokenfamily.com.
JULY 3 Hoboken Pub Crawl, July 3 at 5 p.m.; July 5 at 11 p.m. Prepare to walk through Hoboken during July 4 weekend with a party pass and free entrance into all of the participating bars along with drink specials. Receive a wristband and a full map guiding you throughout the top-rated venues Hoboken has to offer. For tickets and more information, please visit PubCrawls.com or call (888) 998-6609.
6 Mimi Kids Yoga, Core Yoga. Join studio owner Lisa
Hanuka. Melt belly fat, tone and tighten your core and strengthen key back muscles. All levels. (201) 2221814, mimikidsyoga.com.
like no other. Songs for everyone, costumes, props, special effects, and more!
AUGUST
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10 Garden State Yoga Hoboken, (201) 533-9642, gardenstateyoga.com. Open to all levels. Power Vinyasa Yoga to move, stretch, breathe and sweat in this powerful and playful class. In case of rain, attend a regularly scheduled yoga session July 10 at 104 Hudson Street, Fifth Floor.
Surya Yoga Academy, (201) 798-7498, SuryaYogaAcademy.com. Flow in the Park: Find your physical edge without going beyond your capabilities. A Vinyasa-based practice with flowing movements to help you find joy in your own yoga practice. All levels. In case of rain, attend a hot yoga session July 17 at 79 Hudson St. #103LL.
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Opening Reception for Sinatra at 100 Exhibition, 1301 Hudson St., (201) 656-2240, free, 3-5 p.m., hobokenmuseum.org, Hoboken Historical Museum. Celebration in the main gallery space of Frank Sinatra and his legions of fans for the second half of the year, culminating in a celebration of his 100th birthday on Dec. 12. The exhibit will be on view through Dec. 23. More details will be posted as the event approaches.
Brazen Athletics, (201) 414-6262, brazen athletics.com. Varied workout composed of functional movements performed at high intensity.
Rock Ur Core Yoga, with Lisa Usherovich of Mimi Yoga, (201) 222-1814, mimikidsyoga.com. Join Lisa for a heart-pounding, sweaty flow that will get your heart pumping, while toning and tightening your core.
14 Polka Dot, ronalbanese.com. Ron Albanese brings along his Polka Dot Pals! band for a music and comedy show
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4 Guitar Bar Jr. Allstars, guitarbar.com/guitarbarjr/ guitarbarjr.asp. Co-sponsored by Guitar Bar Jr.
8 The Circus McGurkus. Be a lion, be an acrobat, be a clown! Help Tempest create our own Circus McGurkus. (Dr. Seuss)
HOBOKEN OB OK E
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28–OCT. 4
Submissions due for the 6th Annual Hoboken Comedy Festival, held Sept. 28 through Oct. 4 at Maxwell’s Tavern, hobokencomedyfestival.org, details TBD. Submissions for live comedy acts are a non-refundable, $30 fee.
Hoboken Comedy Festival, details TBD. For more information, go to hoboken comedyfestival.org.
18 StoryBook Theatre, Elysian Park, 11th and Hudson Street at 2 p.m. Presented by Tempest Productions, a series of StoryBook Journeys. Join your favorite storybook characters and become part of the story as we sing, dance, whistle and hum through the magical world of books in these interactive journeys. Free for all ages. Bring a picnic basket and blanket. Tents will be set up in case of rain.
23 Heirloom Tomato-Tasting Festival, Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson St., (201) 6562240, 1-5 p.m. Savor the best flavors of traditional tomatoes in nearly every color of the rainbow. Trucked in Jersey-fresh from Wantage, N.J., by farmers Rich and Sue Sisti, who bring other fresh produce for sale as well. Volunteers needed, send an email to volunteer@hobokenmuseum.or g for more information.
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Hoboken Italian Festival, featuring a procession, fireworks, feast, live entertainment. Details to be announced. hobokenitalianfestival.com/html/sched ule.htm
27 Fall Festival, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Washington Street from Observer Highway to Seventh Street. Over 300 artists, crafters, and food vendors will participate. Three stages of live music. Special section for children including: rides, games, crafts activities for children, inflatables, face painting, sand art, a balloonatic, live performances, music and more.
OCTOBER 11 Heirloom Garlic-Tasting Festival, 1-5 p.m. Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson St., (201) 6562240. Savor the pungent flavor of more than a dozen varieties of “the stinking rose,” trucked in Jersey-fresh from Wantage, N.J., by farmers Rich and Sue Sisti, who bring other fresh produce for sale as well. Volunteers needed, send an email to volunteer@hoboken museum.org for more information.
17 Harvest Festival, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pier A Park , First Street and Sinatra Drive. Hay rides, pony rides, hay maze, face painting, trackless train, pumpkin painting, moonwalk and more
25 Annual Hoboken House Tour, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson St., or the Fire Department Museum, 213 Bloomfield St. Historic or modern. See up to 10 beautiful brownstones and condos in this annual rite of fall. From turn-of-the century craftsmanship to the beautiful views from a waterfront loft apartment, the tour allows Hoboken to show off its eclectic array of home spaces. Self-guided tour takes about two to three hours. Not recommended for children under age 12. Houses are open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; arrive no later than 2 p.m. to see most of the homes. Fee: $30 in advance, $40 on the day of the tour (Museum members pay $30).
30 Rag-A-Muffin Parade, 3 p.m. starting from 13th Street and continuing down Washington Street, followed by a costume contest at the Little League Field. Prizes awarded for the best costumes.