SPRING | SUMMER 2016
Dog days Prep your pooch for summer Baseball Trailblazer Blades of Glory Adrenaline Junkies Top Cop’s Training
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07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2016 •
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CONTENTS 07030
FEATURES 16 BLADES OF GLORY Skating Champ 22 GREAT ADVENTURES Group Thrills
COVER 26 DOG DAYS Pooch Prep Cover photo by Terri Saulino Bish | tbishphoto
38 48 HOW WE WORK Small Businesses 50 HOW WE LIVE House Proud 52 THE STUDIO Pull up a Chair … or a Table 55 EMERGING Academic Gateway 56 HELPING HANDS Law Partner 58 ARCHIVES AND ARTIFACTS Lens Crafter
30 30 MADAME PREZ Sandlot Celeb 34 KID CUTS First Trims
DEPARTMENTS 10 CONTRIBUTORS 12 EDITOR’S LETTER 38 WORKING OUT WITH Police Chief Ken Ferrante 41 DATES What’s Goin’ On 42 EDUCATION Play Time
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62 EATERY Jack & Co.
55
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that uses color-coded cloths in every room. We use specific cloths in different rooms to prevent cross contamination and promote healthy living. www.maidinhoboken.com
SPRING | SUMMER 2016 Vo l u m e 5 • 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 Veronica Aldaz
07030 Hoboken is published by the Hudson Reporter Associates, L.P., 447 Broadway, Bayonne, New Jersey 07002, (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, 447 Broadway, Bayonne, NJ 07002. Not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or other unsolicited materials. Copyright ©2016, 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. 447 Broadway, Bayonne, New Jersey 07002 phone 201.798.7800 • fax 201.798.0018 e-mail: 07030@hudsonreporter.com 07030hoboken.com
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MELISSA ABERNATHY ARLENE PHALON BALDASSARI
C O N T R I B U T O R S
0 7 0 3 0
ALYSSA BREDIN
DELFIN GANAPIN
VICTOR M. RODRIGUEZ
TERRI SAULINO BISH
MARIO A. MARTINEZ
MAXIM RYAZANSKY
STEVEN RODAS
TARA RYAZANSKY
MELISSA ABERNATHY
MARIO A. MARTINEZ
is a freelance communications consultant and writer, who has called Hoboken home for more than half her life. The rich history of the Mile Square City has fascinated her since she first walked into the Hoboken Historical Museum in 2001. Ever since, she has dedicated herself to sharing this enthusiasm with anyone who’ll listen.
is a freelance journalist who was born and raised in Hoboken. Aside from writing, Mario enjoys staying active and living a healthy lifestyle.
ARLENE PHALON BALDASSARI has worked as an actress, for a literary agency and book publisher, and in the restaurant industry. She lives in Hoboken with her husband Mike and daughter Sophie.
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.
STEVEN RODAS was born and raised in The Heights section of Jersey City. He currently lives in West New York, and is a staff writer for the Hoboken Reporter. In addition to interning for Fox 5 News and ABC TV, his work has appeared in New Brunswick Today, hMAG, and The Jersey Journal. Email him at srodas@hudsonreporter.com if you have a story idea.
VICTOR M. RODRIGUEZ has studied publication design, photography, and graphic design. “I’ve been fascinated by photography for almost 20 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.
DELFIN GANAPIN
TARA RYAZANSKY
is an editorial assistant at the Hudson Reporter. In his spare time, he is immersed in contemporary geek and pop culture and has contributed to a small geek culture blog called We Are Geeking Out.
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.
10 • 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2016
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BRIAN J. NEARY
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EDITOR'S LETTER 07030
CERTIFIED AS A CRIMINAL TRIAL ATTORNEY BY THE NEW JERSEY SUPREME COURT
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Double Exposure
S
eems like in this town, we’re always anticipating the future and celebrating the past all at the same time. Which is as it should be in a vibrant, ever-evolving community with deep generational roots. While the city council just approved a new glass sky bridge as part of Stevens’s Academic Gateway project, the Hoboken Historical Museum is mounting an exhibit of 1970s-era photographs. Check out some of Michael Flanagan’s images in Melissa Abernathy’s story about the exhibit. With summer on the way, Lots of Hoboken kids will be heading down to the Little League field. In this issue Arlene Phalon Baldassari profiles Joan Colgrove, the first woman president of the Hoboken Little League Managers and Coaches Association. Speaking of sports, synchronized skating is one that many people have see page 33
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The Metroettes Collegiate team.
lades
of
Glory
A Hoboken native is a champion on ice BY KATE ROUNDS PHOTOS BY JAMESHASKINSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM
T
his story is about a sport that I’m pretty sure most of you have never heard of: synchronized skating. It’s an awesomely visual sport, so it will test my writing chops to try and explain it in words.
OK, think ice dancing or pairs skating in the Olympics, and then octuple it. Oops, now I’m complicating it by adding a rarely used math term. In other words, increase the pairs eight-fold. Does that make 16? OK, now you have 16 women on the ice, trying to stay in synch like Esther Williams or the Rockettes while performing complicated choreography to music. Phew!
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Meanwhile, everyone’s in formation, not falling down—and not crying. Hoboken native Virginia Mason is a member of the Hayden Synchronized Skating Teams, based in Lexington, Mass. The Haydenettes, the group’s senior team, won the 2015 U.S. National Gold Medal. Virginia is a member of the The Metroettes Collegiate team. She just finished her freshman year at
Simmons College in Boston. Though she was born and raised in Hoboken, Virginia went to City and Country School and then Elisabeth Irwin in New York City. She learned to skate at Chelsea Piers, beginning at age 2½. “I’m not entirely sure why my parents did that,” Virginia says. She was coached in solo figure skating until she was about 10. “I’ve had several coaches in my career,” she says, “and started competing in local competitions when I was five.” A lot of young athletes freak out when they compete, but not Virginia. “I loved competing, but I hated practice,” she says. “I hadn’t achieved anything and was doing the same thing for years. I’m really goal oriented, and it was getting boring. I started to take it seriously when I finally started landing some jumps I’d been working on.” But she was still not sold on skating until… “My sophomore year of high school a friend I’d had all my life pressured me into trying synchronized skating.”
Again, practicing didn’t float her boat: “I wasn’t into it until the first competition, and then I fell in love.”
And the Rest is History Synchronized skating is not an Olympic sport. “I’m hoping that it will be sometime soon,” Virginia says.
cussions and injuries.” The first question that came to mind when I watched a video was, what if you fall down or screw up? You’re ruining it for 15 other people. “My current team is by far the most difficult level I’ve ever competed at,” Virginia relates. “That put a lot of pressure on me because I felt I had more to
It’s dangerous having 16 people wearing blades and connected to each other.”– Virginia Mason Pigeon racing was an Olympic sport in 1900, and if rhythmic gymnastics can be an Olympic sport, synchronized skating should be. Synchronized skaters have to be strong—Virginia is 5-foot-5 and weighs 160 pounds—very coordinated, and have nerves of steel. “It’s dangerous having 16 people wearing blades and connected to each other,” Virginia says. “You can get con-
prove. However, I have friends who feel like there is less pressure because they aren’t the only one out on the ice. Generally, people understand that mistakes happen, but it can be incredibly frustrating when someone makes a mistake that you can’t control.” Her collegiate team won a bronze at the nationals. This particular skating niche appeals to her because “it doesn’t matter what
07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2016 •
17
your body type is. As long as you are good enough and a good athlete you can be successful.” She’s also drawn to the team aspect. “I like how in gymnastics all those girls congratulate each other. I like having that support system behind me. You’re dependent on your teammates.”
College and Competitions “A lot of my friends at Simmons are not skaters, and it’s difficult to explain that I went to the national championships and got a bronze,” she says. “They don’t know how much work goes into it. It’s difficult when you’re not affiliated with a school and have to practice on your own.” During the skating season, she practices about 10 hours per week. When she’s home in Hoboken she practices at Chelsea Piers.
18 • 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2016
Former Hudson Reporter staff writer Art Schwartz was on hand for the 2016 World Synchronized Skating Championships in Budpest, Hungary. Here’s his report.
The Haydenettes (Team USA 1) Take Bronze in World Championships
The Haydenettes (Team USA 1) She stretches at home for an hour every night and also does weightlifting and cardio. “You need strength, speed, and flexibility and need to be strong overall, so that you can pull people and take up the slack for someone not holding her weight,” she says. Virginia is majoring in nutrition, which may be related to some of her early skating experiences. “When I started solo skating I was kind of a bigger person, and I got a lot of negative comments from coaches, and even some friends,” she says. “Then I began to appreciate how my body is, and I make it work as best as I can.” Judging from what I’ve seen, it works pretty well. —07030
To view a video of the Haydenettes’ short program at the 2013 World Championships, visit youtube.com/watch?v=laSOj5s8puA
The Haydenettes Synchronized Skating Team (Team USA 1) was in fourth place after round one of the ISU World Synchronized Skating Championship competition, held this year in Budapest, Hungary, April 8 and 9. The U.S. team finally skated home with a bronze medal. The second U.S. team, Miami University (Oxford, Ohio), finished eighth in the free skate and ninth overall. Paradise (Russia 1) took the gold, and the Rockettes (Finalnd2) took silver. Twenty-six teams from 21 countries vied for top medals in the two-day competition. Teams must skate both a short program and a long program in the championship competition. The short program, held on day one, requires skaters to perform five specific elements on the ice. These elements are incorporated in high-speed, intricately choreographed competitive pieces set to music ranging from classical to recent pop hits. Day two saw the teams competing in long programs, with considerably more complicated – and dangerous – maneuvers. The winners of the competition are the teams with the highest combined scores from the two days. The Haydenettes received a score of 68.09 in the short program, while the USA’s second team, Miami University, scored 59.52. Top scoring Russia eked ahead with a score of 73.86, followed closely by the two teams from Finland at 70.62 and 70.03 with The Haydenettes right on their tail, leaving little room for error between the top-seated competitors. The ISU World Synchronized Skating Championship competition was first held in 2000 in Minneapolis. Since then The Haydenettes have taken home four bronze medals, and Miami University has won one silver medal against strong competition, particularly from Russia, Finland, Sweden, and Canada. Championship teams are comprised of 16 skaters, plus up to four alternates. Programs combine elements from singles, pairs, and ice dancing and are judged on teamwork, precision, speed, and difficulty. Although open to all, currently teams are primarily composed of women. The International Olympic Committee is considering adding synchronized skating to the 2022 Olympic Games.—Art Schwartz
Erin Bold, left with Virginia Mason 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2016 •
19
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HUDSON WHITEWATER ESCAPE. PHOTO COURTESY OF WHITEWATER CHALLENGES
Go
! e r o M e v i L ! Out
s e r u t n ve d a g itin c x e st! e i l s t o e h t k e uc v b a s P t ’ R A A Don r u o for y
Colombian Magic Excersions. BY MARIO A. MARTINEZ
I
t’s Saturday morning in the early weeks of spring. Gray clouds that had covered the mountain peaks of Killington, Vermont, have cleared away. Snow dusts the slopes, and wind pulls at Jack Foltynski’s skis, as he ascends a lift 3,000 feet in the air. He’s about to take the ride of a lifetime down what’s known as The Beast of the East. “For me, it’s a pretty gnarly feeling to be on top of a mountain looking down,” says Foltynski, 29, of Morristown. “It’s just you and the mountain. It’s a challenge, and you’re proving you are able to do it. When skiing, rafting, or hiking, at the end there’s always that feeling of ‘Wow, I just conquered that!’” Foltynski is one of about 20 adventurers who attended the Killington Bau Haus weekend trip hosted by Live More Adventures (LMA) in March 2016.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ELYSE MCGARITY.
How often do you find yourself daydreaming at your desk about a trip you’ve always wanted to take but never got around to doing? Planning a getaway can be a nightmare that ends with a no-go or cancellation. For Hoboken resident Dave Skibinski, cofounder of LMA, there is no excuse to not get outdoors and make those reveries into memories. “I get a very common response like, ‘Oh, I’ve wanted to do that for so long! My friends and I have been talking about it, but we’ll go nowhere or don’t know how,’” says Skibinski. “And the idea of LMA is to just sign up and everything will be taken care of.”
DREAM JOB For a long time Skibinski knew he wanted to help connect people with the outdoors but never knew exactly how. 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2016 •
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Killington Big Haus. PHOTO COURTESY OF LIVE MORE ADVENTURES Serendipitously he met Nick Masino, a fellow adventurer who shared similar ambitions; together they launched LMA. They realized that most people will put off trips even though they still yearn to go, just because they can’t handle the logistics. Skibinski says this makes the experience more enjoyable when it finally happens. “Once you get past your mid-twenties, you’ve already done all the going out and going to bars you want,” says Skibinski. “People eventually want to do something different. They’ve been wanting to do that rafting trip, they’ve been wanting to
How often do you find yourself daydreaming at your desk about a trip you’ve always wanted to take but never got around to doing? go sky diving. They’ve been wanting to do it since they were younger. Those people are hungry for these types of trips, and they want to be out there meeting new people. “ Foltynski, who has taken five LMA trips, says that each time he returns he feels rejuvenated. Getaways like these are a way to escape the stress of work, and being outdoors allows him to decompress. “When I go back to the office after some of these trips, people ask me what I did over the weekend, and I tell them, and I feel great,” he says. “There’s a great sense of accomplishment. It’s something to be proud of. Plus, it’s fun.” LMA’s mission is to help fulfill that urge to be outdoors by making it accessible while also connecting adventurers with other like minded people. With trips that range from hiking to paintballing, it arranges an itinerary that includes trans-
24 • 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2016
portation, accommodations, amenities, and food. The Killington Bau Haus was held at a 30-person luxury estate, which featured an Oktoberfest dinner party that served German cuisine, including potato pancakes, sauerkraut, bratwurst, and beer. LMA offers gourmet options for all diets.
IN GOOD HANDS Skibinski and Masino are experienced guides who put safety first. Travelers of all skill levels can join the adventure and experience the joy of pushing life to the limits. “People sometimes think that you have to be an adrenaline junkie or out of your mind to do some of these things,” says Foltynski. “It’s not that at all. You don’t have to take a huge risk. It’s just about taking that first step. That’s what LMA helps you do.” LMA plans trips according to the seasons. In May, with temperatures warming, it will offer a Hudson Whitewater Escape, a weekend of whitewater rafting on the Hudson River with fellow thrill-seekers while staying at upscale cabins near Lake George. Prices start at $330, which includes lodging, rafting activities, and food. Roundtrip transportation from Hoboken is also available. Now’s the time to push past your comfort zone and create memories that will last a lifetime. “When you’re on your deathbed, what are the moments you’re going to be thinking about?” asks Skibinski. “It’s really these moments. These moments stand out because you really do feel alive.”—07030
For more information, visit livemoreadventures.com
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IMAGES BY TBISHPHOTO
Taking a summer vacation? Prepare your pooch!
W
hether you bring your dog with you or board him or her at a facility, summer vacations can present health challenges for dogs. Dr. Michael Tuder, a vet with the Animal Infirmary of Hoboken, says, “Hudson County is not a hotbed for Lyme disease. The tick that carries that particular organism is not prevalent here. They’re more in an environment where there
26 • 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2016
Dog
days
“On rare occasions, they’ll get a rash,” Tuder adds, “but not like the bullseye rash that people get. We also look for achiness, lethargy; they’re just not themselves. In the later stages it can affect the kidney function and nervous system.”
BUT WAIT…
are wild animals like deer, raccoons, and coyote, which you don’t see in high volume here.” The most common tick we see around here is a dog tick, which, despite its name, is not the dangerous one. The dog tick is about the size of a peanut, once it’s sucked some blood from your dog and is embedded in his or her fur. But you might be going to a destination where there are wild critters and where the tick that causes Lyme disease hangs out. That’s why “lifestyle” is so important to Tuder and his staff. “In our practice we find out from the owner what things they do,” he says. “Are they the type of person who goes down the Shore, goes to the Hamptons camping? Those are the environments where there’s concern about exposure to other types of ticks.” But boarding your dog raises other issues. “On the flip side,” Tuder says, “if you do take your dog to day care, who knows where the other dogs have been? Illness can spread from another dog that went down the Shore and had a Lyme-carrying tick on it that attaches to another dog.” What should dog owners watch for? Lameness without a history of injury. “Many dogs and cats present with limping, and the owner doesn’t know how it happened,” Tuder says. “Typically they’re aware of their pets’ habits, like jumping on and off furniture.
OK, you’re prepared for Lyme. But there’s another very serious illness that dog owners have to be aware of—canine influenza. “It’s a viral disease we see in dogs that can make them very sick,” Tuder says. “Last year they found a new deadly strain in the New York/New Jersey area that might require hospitalization and is costly for owners.” It can spread in parks, dog runs, and daycare. “I’ve seen the devastating effects of canine influenza,” Tuder says. “It’s much more costly and emotionally devastating to treat than to prevent.” Fortunately, there’s a vaccine, but it requires two shots. The FDA has not yet approved a two-in-one shot. “People ask, ‘which is more important,’” Tuder says. “Both are important.” He says that a dog can come down with influenza anytime, but in summer or during holidays, when dogs are boarding, there might be a spike. What should dog owners watch for? Respiratory issues, a productive or nonproductive cough, lethargy, loss of appetite, achiness, slowness, and the biggest sign, a high fever. Tuder has adopted a policy in his practice of offering the necessary vaccines along with heartworm medications. He says, “I’d much rather prevent than treat.” — Kate Rounds
Resource Animal Infirmary of Hoboken 600 Adams St. (201) 216-5777 hobokenvet@aol.com
See page 28, Lyme Aid, one resident’s personal experience with canine Lyme disease.
07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2016 •
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Lyme
aid
I
magine my shock last spring when I received the results from a yearly routine heartworm test. “He tested positive for the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi,” the vet said. “He was infected approximately five weeks ago.” “Spiro what? I don’t even know what that is.” I didn’t realize the test for heartworm disease simultaneously tests for tick-borne illnesses. My dog, Rye, was infected with Lyme disease. That’s impossible. I religiously put the recommended topical treatment on my seven-year-old German Shepherd year-round. He is methodically checked for ticks whenever we go to rural areas. He has also received the vaccine for Lyme. But more important he had not left Hoboken’s concrete environment for seven months. How is it possible that he had been bitten by a deer tick within the last five weeks? It has been nearly a year since that phone call. And what I have learned has been a real eye opener. My vet said she has seen many cases of dogs, who never left the city, testing positive for Lyme disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 14 states in the U.S. are considered high risk, and New Jersey is one of them. The CDC also reports that more than 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported each year, many in urban areas, just like ours. Lyme disease can cause swollen painful joints, lameness, fever, swollen lymph nodes, and in rare instances, kidney failure or neurological problems in our canine companions and in us as well. Some dogs, like mine, never show any symptoms at all.
WHAT CAN YOU DO? To prevent tick bites, topical treatments can be effective. However, several independent studies have shown that they are only 85-95 percent effective. Topical preventatives are designed to prevent ticks from attaching and ultimately biting your dog, according to the CDC.
28 • 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2016
RYE Although topical tick prevention has been around for years, in 2014 two chewable alternatives were approved by the FDA. Nexgard® (afoxolaner) and Bravecto® (fluralaner) are two new ectoparasitics that have proven to be very effective, according to the Elsevier Veterinary Parasitology Journal. Consult your veterinarian to decide which is the better option for you. As for the canine Lyme vaccine, it’s controversial. Some vets argue that it helps prevent infection, while others say the vaccine merely lessens the severity of the disease. It’s important to discuss the vaccine with your vet to
determine what’s right for your dog. There are also natural preventatives that can be used in and around your home. Many herbalists recommend growing plants like basil, peppermint, sage, lavender, and rosemary to keep these pests out of your yard. But there have been no studies on their effectiveness. If Lyme is discovered early enough in your dog, antibiotics, typically Doxycycline, are recommended, and it is extremely effective against early-stage Lyme, according to The Merck Veterinary Manual. Veterinarians, however, are divided on the efficacy of antibiotics, after the initial infection. My vet advised against antibiotics because my dog was not displaying symptoms. She suggested alternative natural treatments, including herbs and supplements. Your vet may disagree; every case is different. Having lived through this, my advice is to be proactive. Talk to your vet about steps you can take to keep your dog tick-free. Check your dog after every outside venture. And don’t assume that your pet cannot get Lyme disease in Hoboken.— Terri Saulino Bish www.cdc.gov/lyme/faq /index.html www.cdc.gov/lyme/ prev/on_pets.html www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm /generalized_conditions/lyme_ borreliosis/overview_of_lyme_ borreliosis.html www.elsevier.com/locate/vetpar
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No Crying in Baseball!
Woman makes history in Hoboken Little League
30 • 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING / SUMMER 2016
J
BY ARLENE PHALON BALDASSARI PHOTOS BY VICTOR M. RODRIGUEZ
oan Colgrove really, really loves baseball. As a kid growing up in Hoboken, she watched the Yankees play on television, and had a huge crush on Bucky Dent, famous for his three-run homer against the Red Sox that clinched the division title for the Bombers in 1978. But her true love is for the game. Today, as Hoboken Little League’s first female President of the Managers and Coaches Association, Joan helps hundreds of kids every year to have that quintessential American experience: the team spirit, hard work, and community of Little League baseball. We caught up with her recently, in the bleachers at Hoboken’s Little League field. As with most things here, there have been a lot of changes over the years at the field, which is midtown in Sinatra Park, with a spectacular view of New York City. “I learned to play right here,” Joan says. “Back in the day, it was gravel, with a lot of potholes. You had to be alert! We didn’t have any facemasks, either.” She played on Hoboken High’s girls’ softball team from 1982 until graduating in 1985. In 2003, when her son Anthony turned seven, he naturally wanted to play Little League. The league needed volunteers to coach, and Joan stepped up to the plate, as a few other moms have done when their kids were in the Minor bracket. But when Anthony moved up to the Majors, she did as well, becoming
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Hoboken’s first female assistant coach in that bracket. Was it hard to coach her own son? “It was horrible!” she said. “Actually, we figured out pretty quick that the manager, Mas Forte, would work with Anthony, and I’d work with the other kids.” Anthony now pitches lefty for Elmira College in upstate New York,
and Joan still coaches the Mas Demolition team.
Tradition of Trailblazing Joan is not Hoboken’s first female to make baseball history. In 1972, at age 12, Maria Pepe became the first girl to
play Little League in Hoboken. On opening day this year, Mayor Zimmer designated the “Maria Pepe Batting Cages” in her honor. Pepe was asked to leave the team after the Little League organization threatened to revoke Hoboken’s charter. The New Jersey Superior Court decided that the Little League must allow girls to try out, but by that time, Pepe had passed the age limit. However, her groundbreaking fight opened the
I learned to play right here.” – Joan Colgrove door for others. Anyone who watched Mo’ne Davis pitch in the 2014 Little League World Series would wonder why girls were banned from Little League in the first place. Joan’s day job is working in the Tax Assessor’s office in City Hall. But with her son away at college, she has more time to devote to the organization and has taken on more responsibility. Which is a good thing because coordinating the program became even more complicated this year when signups skyrocketed to nearly 450 kids. “We have 12 teams of 12 in the majors, 13 teams of 15 in the minors, and six teams of about 15 in the program for seven-year-olds,” she says. There are about 100 more than last year, and every practice and game has to be scheduled on one field. “Every time slot is filled, from April to June,” she says. In addition to scheduling the season, the league also organizes a family barbecue, the endof-season tournament, and a trip to Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the national headquarters of Little League. Joan also works with local businesses that sponsor teams and buy banner advertising at the field, and with City Hall, which does facility maintenance and provides funding for the umpires. It’s a lot of work, but Joan is happy to do it, taking evident delight in a tradition in the Major bracket. “When a kid gets their first hit, they stop the game and give the kid the ball,” she says. “To see the parents so excited, and the kid with a big smile on his face, there’s nothing like it.”— 07030
EDITOR'S LETTER 07030 from page 12
never heard of. Yet, Hoboken native Virginia Mason is a real champ. Read her story and enjoy the pictures of this truly beautiful sport. Also, for summer, we have a story on how to prepare your pooch for the season, whether it’s taking vacation with the family or staying in daycare. There are probably as many dogs in town as there are baby strollers. Check out our gorgeous cover canine. His name is Rye, and he’s a Hoboken native. If the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak when it comes to adventure travel, Dave Skibinski has your back. This Hoboken resident cofounded Live More Adventures for folks who want a guide and a group to help them realize their adventure dreams. Read Mario A. Martinez’s story and buckle your seatbelt. Let us know your thoughts. If there is something or someone you’d like to see in the pages of Hoboken 07030, email me at krounds@hudson reporter.com. Have a great summer.
07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2016 •
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K I D
C U TS
Getting that first trim doesn’t need to be a hair-raising experience BY TARA RYAZANSKY PHOTOS BY MAX RYAZANSKY
G
etting primped and pampered might be enjoyable for adults, but
for kids those snipping scissors can trigger a meltdown. Luckily, Hoboken has salons that cater to kiddie clientele and make haircuts fun.
Yoselin Plasencia with a satisfied customer.
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Hoboken Hair offers cuts for children at its uptown location. They have mom and dad covered too. With three senior stylists on staff you can get haircuts for the whole family.
Yoselin says she loves finding ways to help each child enjoy the experience. The place concentrates on cuts, so you won’t be greeted by that hair-dye smell when you enter the narrow but welldesigned salon. Instead, you will likely be greeted by the warm, friendly owner herself. Yoselin Plasencia, who has been in Hoboken for 15 years, noticed that more growing families were staying in town. When she opened her business in 2011 she knew she wanted to include services for youngsters. “It was a nice continuation to do first and second generation,” says Plasencia. Since haircuts can be distressing for some children,
Plasencia’s stylists are trained to be patient. A nervous child can sit on a parent’s lap, and the salon has a tablet available with movies and games. Plasencia loves finding a way to help each kid enjoy the experience. “Molly was surprised,” recalls Maria Strandberg, who has brought her children to Hoboken Hair for years. “Yoselin had gotten a big plastic box and filled it with hairpins and other small treasures and after the haircut Molly got to pick one item out of the box. No need to tell, my daughter was in heaven!” This box is still there five years later. Yoselin named it
“The Molly Box,” and small girls who come in to her salon for a haircut often get to pick something from it after they are done. Molly is very proud that her hairdresser has a “Molly Box.” “We don’t serve people one time and never see them again,” Plasencia says “I have given kids their first haircut and now see them going to school. They go to college and they come home for a haircut. They’re very loyal.” They’re not as loyal when it comes to trends. Boys’ styles are always changing. “Justin Bieber was popular; not so much anymore,” Plasencia says. “Now it’s the soccer players.
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They’re always trying to emulate that.” She says that girls’ trends don’t change as much, and length is always “in.” Whatever the current style, Plasencia holds her team up to a high standard and the hiring process is thorough: “Someone who has a lot of experience, but not with children, it’s like having no experience at all.” Plasencia is passionate about her kids. “You are part of their lives because wherever they are, whatever they do, they are wearing your haircut!”
KID NICHE If you want a salon that puts the full focus on your little one, check out Just 4 Kids Salon & Birthday Party Boutique in the Monroe Center. They have race car chairs for kids and free parking for parents. Owner Gina Leal developed her business plan when she visited a similar salon with her goddaughter in her hometown of Toronto. “I couldn’t get over how happy my goddaughter and all her friends were,” she says. “I said to
myself, ‘It would bring me so much joy if I could make children smile like this every day.’” Years later she was working as a massage therapist at a spa in the Monroe Center. She noticed many kid-oriented businesses opening. Then a loft became available next to My Gym. “I thought to myself, ‘This is the place, and now is the time!’ and we made it happen from there,” says Leal, who opened the business in 2013 with her boyfriend Stephen Haines. Just 4 Kids is a popular birthday party venue. It offers spa days, tea parties, and more.
Olga Iscoa weilds the scissors. “It’s sort of like chasing a moving target,” she says.
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Co-owners Gina Leal and Stephen Haines. With add-ons like face painting, mani-pedis or chalk hair dye. “Pink and purple are always the most popular colors,” Haines says. Despite the diva-centric party options, the salon is decidedly gender neutral. The décor favors green over pink or blue. “Boys get between 10 and 12 haircuts a year while girls get three or four,” Haines says. The busy business is expanding to add five or six more chairs. They are also adding new services and events like in-home lice treatment and a finishingschool-inspired day camp.
“My aim is always to make the kids smile and laugh,” Leal says. “Of course I want to make the parents happy, but I really want to make it fun for the kid,” and her stylists agree. “It’s sort of like chasing a moving target, but it’s fantastic,” says stylist Olga Iscoa, who has been doing kid cuts for 12 years, “This little guy that I just did, at first he did not like haircuts,” she says of a smiling toddler clutching an organic lollipop and waving byebye. “Now I see him about every five weeks and he knows my name already; he knows he’s coming to Olga!”
“They realize, ‘OK, I’m safe here,’” Leal says of her little customers. Says Haines, “The coolest compliment is when a parent brings their child here, and then they try someplace else like a traditional barber and they come back.”— 07030 Hoboken Hair 109 14th St. (201) 683-8877 myhobokenhair.com Just 4 Kids Salon & Birthday Party Boutique 720 Monroe St. (201) 653-5887 just4kidssalon.com
07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2016 •
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IRON MAN
Ken Ferrante
working out with Hoboken Chief of Police BY MARIO A. MARTINEZ IMAGES BY TBISHPHOTO
At
a time when most Hobokenites are enjoying the final dream cycle of their REM sleep, Chief of Police Ken Ferrante is already out the door. It’s just before dawn, and the New York City skyline is still just a silhouette in the distance. He doesn’t have to be at headquarters until 8 a.m., but Ferrante, 42, is already working on his first task of the day: getting to the gym. In his case, the New York Sports Club at 59 Newark. “It gets the energy going,” says Ferrante. “I’m thinking as I’m on a treadmill. I’m thinking as I’m jumping rope. And when I’m lifting it’s to burn the stress and get the mind cleared for the rest of the day.” He began working out at age 13 as a freshman playing football at St. Peter’s Preparatory School in Jersey City. There he won the 1989 State Championship as a senior linebacker and returned to coach for 12 seasons. He continued working out at the gym to prepare for the police academy. The ritual promotes physical and mental health. “My goal is an hour, four times a week, just to work on calorie burning, stress burning, and I’ll be thinking also,” he says. “I like to plan things out. It’s great when I go on my runs. The whole time I’ll have music on and be planning my day for work.”
Mario with the Chief A grueling schedule is de rigueur for a police chief of a mile-square city with a population of more than 50,000. Being fit is vital in making wise decisions and enduring long hours. “I had back-to-back 90-hour weeks in February when we had a lot of crazy situations happening in the city. So, you’re starting your day at six, seven in the morning and going past midnight. You can’t do that without working out and eating right. If I’m going to keep myself working with high energy as I do, I need to stay in shape.”
07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2016 •
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WORKING OUT 07030
LAW MAN Now in his second year as police chief, Ferrante admits that his sophomore year has already been much more hectic than his freshman year. “I’ve probably had as many newsworthy situations in 2016, in just two and half months, which probably matches all of what I had last year,” he says. Due to a possible transit strike that would have left 160,000 commuters stranded; the annual LepreCon Pub Crawl, which attracts hundreds of revelers; and a water main break that left the city without water, Ferrante has had to be on duty nearly every weekend thus far. Working around the clock leaves little free time, so maintaining a healthy diet is difficult. “With this position I should be the thinnest person in Hoboken,” he says. “The day is so busy it’s rare I get lunch. If I get lunch once during the week, it’s like, ‘Oh wow! I got to have lunch today,’ which isn’t good. So I live on Clif Bars during lunchtime that I keep in the office.” Ferrante encourages his entire department to stay in shape. “There’s a physical component, especially being a young officer out in the street as a patrol officer. In a town that has 117 liquor establishments, you’re going to have bar fights and those types of situations where the better in shape you are and if you know how to use your body, the less mistakes you’re going to make,” Ferrante says.
IRON MAN
At the gym, Ferrante is calculated and regimented, which he attributes to his athletic background. He wears a heart-rate monitor to track his pulse and plans his exercises the night before. Typically, he begins with weightlifting for strength training, 20 minutes of running on the treadmill for cardiovascular training, 15 minutes of jumping rope, and then a few core exercises such as sit-ups or push-ups, and finishes with 15 minutes of stretching to relax the muscles and prevent injury.
He did many of these exercises for strength training in football. He uses coaching techniques at the police department to keep his squad focused and united. “A lot of the structure that I learned both playing and coaching, I bring to the work here,” he says. “I try to get that team mindset when my officers go out into the street, especially for a big day like LepreCon. You can’t be an individual on that day. You’ll get yourself hurt. It’s about watching out
40 • 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2016
for each other, and it’s great to build that camaraderie, too. So I use a lot of the things I learned from football at work, and it’s worked great.” With only 24 hours in a day, it’s amazing that Ferrante can find time to sleep. “I’ve always been fortunate that I didn’t need a lot of sleep,” he says. “I’ve always been a good sleeper. I get my six hours, and I’m ready to rock and roll.”—07030
DATES Want your event listed? Please email us at 07030@hudsonreporter.com and put “07030 calendar listings” in the subject line.
ONGOING Hoboken Gallery Walk, various locations, hobo kengallerywalk.com. 2-6 p.m. Third Sunday of every month. Galleries and art spaces around Hoboken participate with special events and receptions highlighting the work of local, regional, and international artists. Uptown Farmer’s Market, 13th Street and Hudson, 2-7 p.m. Thursdays June through October. Downtown Farmer’s Market, Washington Street between Newark Street and Observer Highway, 3-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays June through November. Family Farmer’s Market, Garden Street and 14th Street. 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturdays through November. Tuesday Ballroom Dance Classes, Symposia Bookstore, 510 Washington St., (201) 963-0909, symposia.us. 7 p.m. $15 per person per hour, or $50 for four lessons. Wednesday Yoga classes, Symposia Bookstore, 510 Washington St., (201) 963-0909, symposia.us. 7 p.m. Refreshments served after class. Thursday Guitar Circle, Symposia Bookstore, 510 Washington St., (201) 963-0909, symposia.us. 8:30 p.m. Beginners welcome. The Mile Square Toastmasters Club Meetings, Hudson School, 601 Park Ave., milesquare.org. 7:30 p.m. Mondays. Develop public speaking skills and leadership skills in a safe and supportive space. Summer Enchanted Evenings Concert Series, Ampitheater at Sinatra Park, Sinatra Drive between 4th and 5th Streets, (201) 420-2207, Thursdays, 7 p.m. Free outdoor performances. Church Square Park Wednesday Evening Concert Series, Gazebo in Church Square Park, between 4th and 5th Streets and Garden Street and Willow Avenue. Wednesdays from June to August, 7-9 p.m. Come take a walk over and enjoy free live music. Art in the Park, Pier A Park, Sinatra Drive and 1st Street, and Elysian Park, Hudson Street between 10th and 11th Streets, (201) 420-2207, Monday and Wednesday sessions at Pier A Park; Tuesday
JERSEY CITY APAR TMENTS R E N TA L S AVA I L A B L E 201.434.1000 info@SilvermanBuilding.com SilvermanBuilding.com
see page 45
07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2016 •
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“The Little Eng ine that Could ,” 2014
’s “Aesop
12
,” 20 Fables
Silly ON
Sixth “Cin
dere
lla! C
inde
rella
!” 20
15
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EDUCATION 07030
Floundering fairy godmothers and wacky witches get standing ovation BY ARLENE PHALON BALDASSARI PHOTOS BY JOHN CRITTENDEN/SHOW ME YOUR FACES
Of
all the things that make Hoboken special, Silly on Sixth plays a unique role. For the last 12 years, this program of the Hudson Theatre Ensemble (HTE) has been introducing the magic of theater to our very youngest children, from 3 to 9 years old. “We’re often their first experience,” says Florence Pape, HTE’s director of development. “We want to set them up with a love of theater for life.” For hundreds of kids every year, that experience is a raucous, fun-filled show featuring singing ducks and princesses, evil but wacky witches, and bumbling fairy godmothers.
008
tiltskin,” 2
“Rumples
Drama Dreams The Hudson Theater Ensemble began as a group of parents and teachers at the Hudson School who enjoyed doing play readings. By 2001, the group was performing plays such as Twelve Angry Men and Steel Magnolias. When the Hudson School moved to their new building at 601 Park Ave., they generously offered the use of their theater space as part of their mission to serve the community. Not long after, HTE added the Silly on Sixth series. “We saw that Hoboken was evolving to a much more family-friendly town, and we wanted to provide high-quality children’s shows, without the schlep and expense of going into the city,” says Producer Diana London. “The beauty of live theater is the way it stretches the imagination and grows a child’s empathy in a way that is so different than TV or film.” Both London and Pape have been with the group since its inception, as have many of the actors, their Production Stage Manager Donna Gearhart Healy, Webmaster Susan Newman Design, and photographer John Crittenden. Adults volunteer their time and expertise and have fun doing it in a true community effort. Some even met while working on the program, married, and had babies themselves.
“Little
Red a nd the Hoods ,” 2014
07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2016 •
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EDUCATION 07030
“Little Red Riding Hood,” 2010
London and Pape team up to find plays that emphasize the magic and idealism of youth. “There is a certain cynicism today, a snarkiness that we try to avoid,” says London. “Of course, we want the shows to be enjoyable for the parents, too, so the plays have to have some sophistication.” The group licenses some of the plays and has produced original works by ensemble members like director Kathy Menino. London adapted The Ugly Duckling and The Little Engine That Could. “We look for plays that emphasize kindness and goodness, but are not saccharine,” says Pape.
Kid Critics At the beginning of each performance, London explains what to expect, reassuring parents not to stress about their toddler’s reactions. “I’ve seen kids climb up on stage, and the actor led them back to their seat, staying fully in character!” laughs Pape. Longtime member Howard Richman usually directs, provides musical direction, and as narrator, guides the audience through the fun, which is often interactive but
44 • 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2016
always engaging. Audiences have responded enthusiastically, and a recent Broadway World review raved, “Kids’ theater with a positive message is amazing. In the hands of the incredible Hudson Theatre Ensemble’s Silly on Sixth, children’s theater is a passionate alchemy of creativity and craftiness to be treasured.” For a city of only one square mile, we’re lucky to have so much terrific live theater. (See 07030’s Fall 2015 issue for our story about Mile Square Theatre’s merge with Hoboken Children’s Theatre and their new home uptown.) Hudson Theatre Ensemble’s Silly on Sixth is the perfect introduction to this world and has been a gift to our community. As often happens, it has brought joy to the givers as well. Says Pape, “For us, there’s the pleasure of acting, the pleasure of seeing the kids experience theater for the first time, and the pleasure of watching the parents and grandparents enjoying their kids. It’s been a fulfilling experience. It’s a privilege. As I tell each family when I take their reservation, ‘Thank you for being our audience.’”—07030
DATES 07030 from page 41
JUNE
and Thursdays sessions at Elysian Park. This sixweek creative arts program is for toddlers ages 4 and under. The cost per six-week session is $25. Children must be accompanied by parent or guardian. Tuesday Night Yoga, Pier A Park, Sinatra Drive and 1st Street, 7-8 p.m. Thursday Night Yoga and Pilates, Maxwell Place Park, 1 11th St., 7 p.m. Fitness at Pier A Park, Pier A Park, 1st Street and Sinatra Drive,. (201) 420-2207, Mondays, 7-8 p.m. starting June 6. Each week, a different local fitness establishment will sponsor an introductory class.
1 Zumba, Elysian Park, Hudson and 10th Streets, (201) 981-4474, 7 p.m. A total workout, combining all elements of fitness: cardio, muscle conditioning, balance and flexibility, mixing high- and low-intensity moves. Free.
4 Opening reception for “The Real Poop on Pigeons: Paintings by Kevin McCloskey,” Hoboken Historical
Museum, 1301 Hudson St., hobokenmuseum.org, (201) 656-2240, 2-4 p.m. The Museum is pleased to host an exhibit of paintings by Kevin McCloskey, former Hoboken resident who has contributed to several of the Museum’s publications. His latest book is “The Real Poop on Pigeons,” answering nearly all your questions about the ubiquitous urban bird. Free.
5 Downtown Storytime, Fire Department Museum, 213 Bloomfield St., hobokenmuseum.org, 12 p.m. Children ages 2 to 5 are invited to join us downtown to listen to stories. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Free.
Fitness Under the 14th Street Viaduct, 14th Street between Grand and Clinton Streets, (201) 4202207, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Each week, a different local fitness establishment will sponsor an introductory class. Uptown Storytime at the Museum, Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson St., hobokenmuseum.org, (201) 656-2240, Thursdays, 10 a.m. Local children’s librarians share stories with children ages 2 to 5 and their caregivers. Registration required. See homepage for link, posted 10 a.m. on the day before each session. $2 per family. First Sundays Sinatra Singer Series, Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson St., hobokenmuseum.org, (201) 656-2240, Sundays, 4 p.m. On the first Sunday of every month, the Museum and the Hoboken Department of Cultural Affairs bring back past Sinatra Idol contestants to help celebrate Sinatra’s centennial year.
MAY
Schedule a Visit with Us Today
21 Hoboken Irish Festival, Sinatra Park, Sinatra Drive between 4th and 5th Streets, (201) 420-2207, 12-5:30 p.m. Music, Irish Step Dancing, Irish Soda Bread Contest, vendors selling Irish food, crafts, clothing and more. Sheep shearing demonstration and fiber spinning. Activities for children including: pony rides, petting zoo, moonwalk, inflatable obstacle course, face painting, balloon artist, spin art, sand art, make green slime and more.
22 Garden State of Mind: Hoboken Student Poets, Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson St., hobokenmuseum.org, (201) 656-2240, 3-5 p.m. The public is invited to the publication party and live reading for “A Garden State of Mind,” the anthology of Hoboken student writing. Free.
Specialty programs include MEDQUEST, Champagnat Scholars, Focus, and our NEW Engineering Program Contact our Admissions Officer, Barbara Verdonck, at 201-437-4545 Ext. 225 to schedule an appointment
see page 65
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A W A R D S Winning Combo! Hudson Reporter ’s lifestyle magazines sweep categories
GSJA 2016 Memorial Journalist Awards
GSJA 2016 Memorial Journalist Awards
Magazine Front Cover | First Place Terriann Saulino Bish Magazine Feature Layout | First Place Terriann Saulino Bish
Magazine Front Cover | First Place Terriann Saulino Bish Magazine Feature Layout | Second & Third Place Terriann Saulino Bish
NJPA Best Niche Publication
GSJA 2016 Memorial Journalist Awards Magazine Front Cover | Honorable Mention Lisa M. Cuthbert and Maxim Ryazansky
NJPA Best Niche Publication First Place Hudson Reporter Staff
Third Place Hudson Reporter Staff
“ Life on the Peninsula indicates a clear sense of community, culture, and way of life,” Jersey City Magazine ... “ solid editorial content, historical perspective, and trending issues.” Hoboken 07030 Hoboken ... “ packed with local information, history, and personalities.”
A
ll three Hudson Reporter lifestyle magazines won awards from the New Jersey Press Association and the Garden State Journalists Association.
Congratulations to our writers, designers, and photographers, and thanks to our readers and advertisers for their ongoing support. — Kate Rounds, editor in chief
NJPA Best Niche Publication Second Place Hudson Reporter Staff
DATES 07030 from page 45
Hoboken Secret Garden Tour, Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson St., hobokenmuseum.org, (201) 656-2240, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. A guided two-hour walking tour of 8-9 hidden horticultural gems will depart every 15-30 minutes from the museum. $25 in advance, $30 on the day of event.
7 Family Fun Nights – Yosi, Shipyard Park, 13th Street and McFeeley Drive, (201) 420-2207, 7 p.m. Free outdoor performances for the whole family. From school and library events to regional music festivals, Yosi’s shows are whimsical, imaginative, and enthusiastic. Shake, Rattle n Tone, Elysian Park, Hudson and 10th Streets, (201) 981-4474, 11:15 a.m. Tone up and dance with your baby (must be in carrier sling). Class is free but space is limited. To register, visit hobokennj.org.
ADVERTISE WITH US 201 798 7800
8 Movies Under the Stars - Creed, Pier A Park, between 1st Streeet and Sinatra Drive, (201) 4202207, 9 p.m. Free outdoor movie screenings overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Creed stars Michael B. Jordan and Sylvester Stallone. The son of famous boxing champion Apollo Creed seeks a mentor to help him make a name for himself in the ring.
9 Sinatra Idol Contest, Sinatra Park, Sinatra Drive between 4th and 5th Streets, 6:30 p.m. 15 contestants will compete to be named the Best Sinatra Style Singer. In case of rain, event will take place at DeBaun Auditorium, 5th and Hudson Streets.
11 Story Book Theatre – The Cheese, Elysian Park, 10th and Hudson Streets, 2-4 p.m. Join us to celebrate New Jersey’s own Margie Palatini and travel through her topsy-turvy tales as we create our own wild and wonderful characters through pantomime, props, and parades.
14 Family Fun Nights – Preschool of Rock, Shipyard Park, 13th Street and McFeeley Drive, (201) 4202207, 7 p.m. Free outdoor performances for the whole family. Preschool of Rock offers an exciting, entertaining and educational music show for kids.
15 Movies Under the Stars - Joy, Pier A Park, between 1st Sreet. and Sinatra Drive, (201) 420-2207, 9 p.m. Free outdoor movie screenings overlooking
71 Years And Still Innovating!!
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BUSINESSES MAKE HOBOKEN WORK
BY KATE ROUNDS PHOTOS BY ALYSSA BREDIN
DONNA GARBAN, AND KATE JACOBS
LITTLE CITY BOOKS 100 Bloomfield St. (201) 626-7323 littlecitybooks.com
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he handwritten notes posted all over Little City Books say as much as anything about the ethos of this corner bookshop. The mini critiques help the browser make choices but also set a friendly tone. From “first-rate adventure” to “insightful read,” you know you’re among fellow bibliophiles. The notion of a bricks-and-mortar bookstore raises questions and triggers memories. In the age of Amazon and ereaders, do people still go to bookshops? On this sunny Friday afternoon, it was busy, and for many it’s a nostalgic stroll through a non-virtual world. Bookshops often become the literature they sell. Famous examples are “84 Charing Cross Road” and Penelope Fitzgerald’s tragicomic, “The BookShop,” which chronicles one woman’s dream of opening a bookshop. Spoiler alert: It ends badly, which cannot be said for Little City Books. Kate Jacobs and Donna Garban were realizing a dream when they opened the shop in May 2015. They had kids the same age and spent many an afternoon
in the park, fantasizing about, well, opening a bookstore. Why not a saloon or a nail salon? “I’m drawn to bookstores,” Kate says. “It’s the only place where you can read, browse, hang out, and learn new things, and we thought Hoboken could use an indie bookstore. Barnes & Noble and Blackwater closed, leaving a big void.” Blackwater was an independent bookstore that closed in the ’90s, and Amazon pushed out the chains, including Barnes & Noble, which pulled up stakes in 2010. Symposia’s used books are an entirely different niche. “It was the perfect time,” Kate says. “Independent bookstores are on the uptick. There is a shop-local movement in town, so it all came together in a perfect storm.” Kate is a musician, songwriter, and artist, and Donna is an investment banker. “She had a head for numbers and a reckless and philosophical attitude toward money,” Kate says. It would be hard to find a better match. But wait, soon another owner signed on. Enter Emanuelle Morgen, a literary agent with New York City’s Stonesong agency. Though Emanuelle has since left the bookstore, she was one-third of an ideal book-business combo. As Kate says, “She’s in The Business.”
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“We had a common vision,” Kate says. “We agreed on what we cared about and what we could let go.” Not surprisingly, the trio did tons of research, going to conventions and classes for bookstore owners, and leaning on the American Booksellers Association, which offers workshops and other resources for the passionate and adventurous souls who dream about owning their own bookstores. Kate says she’s responsible for presentations and the newsletter. “Anything to do with content,” adding, “but in a bookstore there’s nothing but content.” They launched with 5,000 titles in the 1,200square-foot space, and are now up to 9,000, including history, poetry, literature, classics, translations, art, and music, as well as bestsellers, cookbooks, and kids’ books. Accessories like journals and cards are also what make real bookstores fun to browse in. “We learned so much in 10 months about what sells in Hoboken,” Kate says. “People are much more literary than you might think.” The shop is a real gathering place, with book clubs, live performances, story time for kids, and author’s readings in a 50-person venue with a state-of-the-art sound system. As Kate says, it’s much more than a business.
ORLANDO PHYSICAL THERAPY 1321 Washington St. (201) 876-0001 orlandopt.com
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ometimes your first impression of a person turns out to be who he really is, which was the case when I first met Anthony Orlando. His physical therapy practice happened to be across the street from The Hudson Reporter’s Hoboken office. A bunch of us at various times had limped or hobbled over there suffering from this or that pain and walked out upright and upbeat. For me it was a back problem. He took one look and said, no, it’s a hip problem. Not only was he right about the medicine, but he also really felt my pain, in the true sense of the word. If you’re not happy, he’s not happy. The habit of caring started early. “I was close to my grandparents,” he relates, “and I enjoyed helping them out. I knew then that I liked to help people.” Anthony’s parents taught him to be compassionate. “When you go to the deli, knock on your neighbor’s door and ask if they need milk or bread,” he says. It’s a lesson he’s taught his own three kids. He grew up in Staten Island. When he graduated from high school, he got a job as a truck driver, carrying, sorting, and unloading freight. “But I knew I wanted to do more in life,” he says. “I had an older friend who was a physical therapist. He asked me one day if I wanted to volunteer at his clinic. I went down there for a few months and loved it.” He was hooked, and it wasn’t just the work. “The physical therapists were nice and pleasant, and it wasn’t because they’d just met me,” he says. “Weeks went by, and their personalities didn’t change. They loved what they were doing.” While still holding down the truck-driving job, he enrolled in college—no one in his family had ever been to college. He continued to work at night, listening to courses in chemistry, biology, and physics on his Sony Walkman while he drove. He graduated from Syracuse University and got his doctorate at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, now Rutgers. “I learned from working with these blue-collar guys that whatever job you’re doing, do it proudly,” he says. “Even if it’s sweeping the streets, take pride in what you do.” After getting married, he and his wife moved to Hoboken because it was con-
ANTHONY ORLANDO venient and they liked the town. Anthony got a job working for a Hoboken physical therapy practice and also treated kids with disabilities for the Hoboken Board of Ed. “But I’ve always been entrepreneurial and wanted to do my own thing,” he says. “When I was 18, I owned my own ice cream and fruit truck route.” Enter Chiropractor, Dr. Dominic Frio. The Orlandos lived next door to him in uptown Hoboken. “He was a godsend,” Anthony says. “He rented me a space at a reasonable cost.” Anthony opened his practice on Nov. 7, 2001, just about two months after the 9/11 disaster. “It was challenging,” Anthony says. “People were coming in emotionally drained,” which required him to put his medical and psychological skills to work.
A full-service therapist who treats many disorders, he says he loves soft-tissue work, dry needling, the Graston Technique, and active-release techniques, among many other therapies. He also treats kids. “Those kids have taught me what life is really about,” he says. “They never complain. They’re energetic and can’t wait to go to therapy. They put life in perspective.” Adults need to be willing to go the distance. “The mental part is the hardest,” he says. “When they make a decision to really commit to taking care of themselves, you see a change in their lives.” Says Anthony, “I want to empower people holistically. It takes work. It’s not for everybody. A lot of people want a quick fix, surgery or an injection. You’re on a journey to learn about your body, your constitution, who you are, and what makes you tick.”—07030
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How we
PARK AND GARDEN PHOTOS BY VICTOR M. RODRIGUEZ
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llison and Allen Bari, owners of the Hudson Table culinary studio, moved to Park and Garden in October of last year because it had everything they were looking for in an urban rental. “It was the location, the New York City views, and the amenities of the building,” Allen says. “Not many rentals have a pool.” I can certainly attest to the views and the amenities. As soon as you walk in, you know you’re in a luxury building. The lobby is modern, light, and spacious with cathedral ceilings, and artsy décor. When you get inside the Bari’s apartment, you’re greeted with panoramic views on three sides of the unit. You
Allison and Allen Bari with their dog Lou.
can see the Midtown Manhattan, World Trade Center, and iconic Hoboken cityscapes. Allen is also partial to Bijou buildings. “Hudson Table is in a Bijou building, Edge Lofts,” he says. “As soon as this building went up, I kept up with the buildout of the apartment.” The property’s LEED designation was also a factor. “It’s environmentally friendly,” Allen says. “My electric bill is probably one-third to one-fifth of what it had been in other buildings.” Allen has lived in Hoboken for almost 10 years, and Allison for five. Between
the two of them, they’d lived in about nine different apartments before this one. The ninth-floor apartment has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. “It’s a corner unit with views of the Empire State Building, the Freedom Tower, and all of downtown Hoboken,” Allen says. “It’s pretty amazing.” It’s an open plan with no separate dining room. Given the couple’s culinary career, the kitchen is key. “It’s important to us,” Allen says. “We try to cook two nights a week.” When I took a tour of their space,
they’d been living there for only about five months, so they weren’t completely finished decorating. “It’s contemporary,” Allen says. “We have photography on the walls.” The allure of the apartment isn’t just about the nuts and bolts. “There are a lot of intangibles,” Allen says. “It’s comfortable. We love the fact that the doormen and women are there for most of the day and night. The staff is really great. They’re pleasant and know us. We see the building managers every day. If anything goes wrong, they’re there to take care of it.” The couple also likes the locale. “It’s just a really nice area, kind of a dead end,” Allen says. “It’s a quiet cobblestone street that’s blocked off when there’s a farmer’s market.” Allison and Allen take full advantage of Hoboken living. They walk their dog on the waterfront and are looking forward to going to Pier 13 when it opens in the warm weather. They also frequent Bin 14, the Madison, Pilsner Haus & Biergarten, La Isla, Los Olas, and Sting Ray Lounge “for good seafood and cocktails,” Allen says. I forgot to mention another important member of the family, Lou, the dog. As you can see from Victor’s pictures, taken on a rainy spring morning, he also loves his new digs—07030
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AC Back to Basics A furniture design company with Hoboken roots branches out 52 • 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2016
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BY STEVEN RODAS PHOTOS COURTESY OF PAPER ANTLER
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hen he first started out, Andrew Coslow’s friends commissioned him to make original furniture in their homes. His studio was his Bloomfield Street apartment, where his tools were meager compared to today: a chop box, drill gun, and palm sander. But Coslow, 28, says not much has really changed. He just has more friends. “We started to have parties, and friends would come over, and all of a sudden our place turned into a showroom,” he says. The “place” is his apartment, which he shared with a friend. But he now works out of a 3,000-square-foot studio at the iconic Yardley Building on the border of Hoboken and Union City. In August 2012 he launched BAC (By Andrew Coslow). The Yardley studio, where he moved in January 2013, is an extension of the company’s vision. A handmade wooden sign opposite the entrance announces “A design company that builds things.” Surfboards hang overhead, skateboards line the wall, and furniture in various states of completion populates the space, including a bed frame and tables. Visit ByAndrew Coslow.com, and you’ll also find beds, chairs, coffee tables, credenzas, desks, shelves, side tables, and pet furniture. Sawdust and steel ash coat my black loafers and dark-
blue jeans. It makes me look scruffy, but it does wonders for Coslow. He has rugged good looks, part Paul Bunyan, part Bradley Cooper. He sports a beard, red-and-blue plaid flannel shirt, ripped fitted gray pants, and work boots. Dogs Winston (Liver Pointer and Doberman mix) and Atticus (Great Dane) roam the floor and occasionally take a rest on a mustard-colored couch.
Simple is Better Coslow was born in Park Ridge, grew up in Bayville, and has lived in Hoboken for six years. A product of the New Jersey Institute of Technology’s competitive School of Architecture Program, he graduated in 2010, specializing in fabrication. “The painter,” as Coslow calls co-founder Joe Ventura, studied at the prestigious New York Academy of Arts. Ventura, 28, is laid back, in jeans and a rumpled lightpurple, button-down. The synergy between the two is palpable, Ventura the introvert to Coslow’s extrovert. Ventura credits Coslow with the success of the company. It’s “this guy’s hard work,” he says. Coslow counters, “As much as this is ‘By Andrew Coslow,’ this is really ‘By Us.’ I’m Bob Marley, and he’s the Wailers.” BAC has had as many as 15 employees at a time. Like any up-and-coming entrepreneur, Coslow had trouble just saying no to prospective clients.
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Today, the company has scaled back its workforce and its mission. “We thought, ‘what’s the most simplistic way to run this business that generates the most money, and could that be coupled with the things we’re the best at?’” Now Coslow and Ventura tag-team major projects, cherry-pick clients, and streamline their catalog. “The best work we’re doing right now is our affordable production furniture,” says Coslow. He pauses when Atticus paws the door, seeking attention. “Relax, life’s good!” he shouts at the dog before turning back to me. “It’s so easy to design something that’s high end, and if you have a client that has an unlimited amount of funds, but it is insanely difficult to design a piece that is beautiful, that is strong, and that is affordable. That is the biggest challenge.”
Model Marketer Before officially launching BAC, Coslow was a model. Big industry names, like Versace and Prada, recognized him, not only for his looks, but for his entrepreneurial spirit. “I started getting these connections in the world of fashion,” Coslow says. “When I told them what I could do, they were impressed. I was using modeling as a way to jumpstart my business. All these people loved the idea that there was a model that wasn’t a model.” Advertising his skills through word of mouth, and staying true to his craft, are key to his work ethic. In college, he realized many professors and peers
were focused on “conceptual processes” as opposed to building designs from start to finish. “I thought ‘yes, this could set me apart,’” Coslow says. “Then later I looked for my niche market.”
Urban Aesthetic The BAC brand is geared toward an urban demographic. The company makes furniture that’s easily transportable, and small desks made for tablets or laptops because “no one really uses desktops these days.” “Our furniture is now adapting to the way our generation is using technology and how that is changing our lives,” Coslow says. BAC clients include Make Up For Ever, Stella Artois, Ketel One Vodka, Rebecca Taylor, MOMA, Harvard University, Tess Giberson, Fashion Tech Forum, and the Council of Fashion Designers of America. It has had 60 to 80 clients in New York, roughly 25 in Hoboken, and some as far as Maryland and Massachusetts. Starting in the winter of 2013, the company produced murals for some 30 Starbucks in the tri-state area. In Hoboken, you can find BAC’s work at boutique shops, luxury condos, and restaurants, including Viola Vita, Luna Rose Home, Galatea Lingerie, Cooper’s Union, and Cork Wine & Spirits. What’s next for BAC? “Tapping into the children’s toys market would be fun,” says Coslow, who’s already like a kid in his own toyshop.—07030
ACADEMIC GATEWAY Stevens Institute of Technology is developing a two-building project set for completion in fall, 2018. The complex will satisfy the university’s growing need for academic and research space. At the same time, it will be an architectural fit for its Hoboken locale. The height and scale of the buildings were reduced to accommodate the concerns of neighborhood residents, according to the university. On the northeast and southeast corners of Hudson and sixth Streets, the buildings will be connected by a sky bridge. The Gateway will house academic and lab space for healthcare and medicine, sustainable energy, financial systems defense and security, and STEM education.
SEND YOUR HOBOKEN PHOTOS TO 07030HUDSONREPORTER.COM. BE SURE TO WRITE “EMERGING” IN THE SUBJECT LINE.
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HELPING
Elizabeth speaks at last year’s annual fundraiser.
Law Partners THE WATERFRONT PROJECT WORKS FOR THE POOR PHOTOS BY MAX COLAS
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ost people worry about money when they need a lawyer to advocate on their behalf. But homeless and poor people have no chance whatsoever to get the legal help they need. Enter the Waterfront Project. Founded in 2013, this not-for-profit organization helps vulnerable and disadvantaged people in Hudson County gain access to the justice system. It offers guidance, advice, and representation in more than 50 legal matters, including landlord/tenant, contract negotiations, social security matters, and medical insurance contracts. The group was started by Father Bob Meyer of St. Peter and Paul parish in Hoboken, who is also an attorney. “When I was assigned to the Hoboken parish, I came to see that it had a very talented congregation,” he says. “We began to think what we could do that would be helpful beyond what other people ordinarily do.” He kicked around some ideas with Seton Hall’s legal clinic, they hired a director, and the rest is history. That’s where Founding and Executive Director Elizabeth F. Caraballo, Esq. comes in. A graduate of Seton Hall Law School, she heard about the opening through Seton Hall and applied for the position. At the time she was doing private equity liability work in New York City. “I was looking for meaningful work,” she says. “I had a toddler, and I was away from him for 12 hours or more. I wanted
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Elizabeth on the Hoboken waterfront at last year’s fundraiser.
HELPING HANDS 07030 to do something I was passionate about and began to analyze what drove me and made me happy.” Elizabeth herself came from a very poor immigrant background. Her parents are natives of the Dominican Republic. “It makes me happy to help others,” she says. “I conferred with my husband. I would make three-quarters of the salary, but I could spend more time at home and do something I was passionate about.” This winter the group held a homelessness summit, the first in the county. “People who don’t have a home or lose their home are taken advantage of,” Elizabeth says. “They don’t understand their rights, and it’s often too late to assert their rights.”
Causes and a Calling
Father Bob, Elizabeth, and former board chair Al Cooley
Father Bob says that an important takeaway from the summit was “the need to get people to look at the root The project goes beyond offering just legal services. “Sometimes people with low economic status need help in knowing how to budget money, in communications skills, or in learning English,” Father Bob says. The project offers an education network for people who need help in these areas. The lawyer/priest career is an unusual combination, but Father Bob sees no conflict. He reminds us, “In Scripture it says, ‘To whom much is given much is expected.’ I have credentials and a little bit of a command to serve those who can’t help themselves.”— Kate Rounds Elizabeth talks with a homeless person at last year’s homeless summit.
causes of homelessness and not just apply band-aid solutions.” Since poor and homeless people know they can’t afford a lawyer, they often don’t even try. “We sometimes have to conduct interviews in the park because clients who are homeless often don’t feel comfortable coming to an office,” Elizabeth says. “They’re ashamed of their appearance. However, we want them to feel dignified, despite that situation.” The Waterfront Project also serves people who may technically be above the federal poverty guidelines, while other organizations adhere to strict guidelines. The determining factor is whether the prospective client is making enough to raise a family. The group was able to get a mother and three young girls into a public-housing apartment through negotiations with the housing authority. “Most people are supportive of what we do,” Elizabeth says. “We do amazing, wonderful work, and I’m glad I’m doing it.”
Elizabeth and Father Bob receive a donation.
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An Unflinching Eye It’s All in the Details: Photographs of 1980s Hoboken by Michael Flanagan BY MELISSA ABERNATHY
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Michael Flanagan
A handsome Hoboken face.
hirty-five years ago, Hoboken was a very different place. Instead of a waterfront walkway, the Hudson River was lined with vacant warehouses and decaying wooden piers. Where there are now trendy boutiques, drycleaners, and nail salons, there were butcher shops, live poultry markets, and mom-and-pop shops, with the proprietors living upstairs. Bars had no craft beers or TV screens, and restaurants catered more to families and factory workers than foodies. Although the city had been hit hard by the departure of the shipping industry and factory closings in the 1960s and ’70s, what it had going for it was a close-knit sense of community, full of multigenerational extended families bound together by old-country traditions like the Feasts of the Madonna dei Martiri and St. Ann, or the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
New Faces
Tom Vezzetti
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In the 1970s and ’80s, however, Hoboken’s low rents and easy access to New York City began attracting artists, musicians and other Manhattan refugees priced out by rising rents. A 1975 story in The New York Times quoted several of these newcomers raving about the friendliness of their adopted city, including Michael Flanagan, described as “a computer systems salesman who builds harpsichords in his spare time,” who moved here in 1973 from Park Slope. “After 20 years in Park Slope, I knew six people,” he told the reporter. “After two years here, the number of friends I have is phenomenal. The feeling is that we all have the same problems, so the least we can do is be sociable.”
Tenth and Bloomfield Street. Sociable was an understatement, according to people who knew Flanagan. He was well known for sitting on his stoop on the 900 block of Bloomfield, engaging passersby in conversation. He often had an ulterior motive: Flanagan’s main passion, more than harpsichords, was photography, and he was always on the lookout for interesting subjects.
Lens Crafter He was a photographer’s photographer, according to Steve Zane, a fellow photographer who met Michael in the 1970s and admired his work. Flanagan used a large-format Linhof camera—which requires a tripod, manual settings, and individual 4by-5-inch black-and-white film plates—to capture hyper-detailed images of his neighborhood. He was also drawn to shooting the Hoboken waterfront, portraits of his friends and neighbors, and the mom-andpop stores that gave his neighborhood its character. When he died four years ago, he left his photo archives to Zane, who in turn donated the vast majority of Hoboken images to the Hoboken Historical Museum. A selection of about 75 images will go on display July 31 through Dec. 31, 2016, in an exhibition titled, “It’s All in the Details: Photographs of 1980s Hoboken by Michael Flanagan.”
Michael Flanagan’s friends and neighbors. 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2016 •
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Bob Foster, the museum’s director, is curating the exhibit, which focuses on one of Hoboken’s most turbulent decades. For context, the exhibition will feature artifacts, articles and posters drawn from the museum’s collections, similar to the museum’s 2007 exhibition “From Another Time: Hoboken in the 1970s.”
Transformation
Michael Flanagan’s friends and neighbors.
By the 1980s, gentrification was underway in earnest. Those who lived in Hoboken then will remember the decade through their own filters. For many, it’s colored by the vivid emotions expressed in The Hoboken Reporter’s book, “Yuppies Invade My House at Dinnertime,” a compilation of letters to the editor, subtitled, “A tale of brunch, bombs, and gentrification in an American city.” For others, with less at stake, life in Hoboken in the 1980s was simply a rite of youthful passage, when Hoboken’s music scene rivaled that of today’s hipster Brooklyn. Flanagan’s unflinching eye sees the city in stark black and white. He depicts some of its best features, such as the people and its beautiful architecture, and some of its worst, such as the decaying piers and the burned-out shell of an apartment building allegedly torched by greedy developers, a too-frequent occurrence in the wave of condo conversions. The photographs offer a rare view of a city and its people in the throes of gentrification.
First Person The exhibition will also feature interviews with residents who were living here at the time, many of whom knew Flanagan. One family who lived near 10th and Bloomfield revealed how newcomers and locals learned to appreciate each other’s perspectives. For example, while the newcomers were entranced by the architectural details in their houses, many locals didn’t realize that their homes even had features like interior wooden shutters because they had been long since painted over. They learned a new appreciation for their own city. Unlike other cities hit hard by the 1970s recession, much of Hoboken’s architectural charm had been preserved through a combination of homeowner tenacity and the Johnson administration’s Model Cities Program, which offered low-interest loans for repairs and restoration. Once restored, these architectural details lured the next wave of higher-income newcomers, who were less deterred by rapidly rising housing costs.
Grit to Green Kusseluk’s Shoes
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Some of Flanagan’s portraits were of friends he met through the Environment Committee, a group of civic activists who challenged the city to
enforce clean-air restrictions on local factories and to plant more trees, as well as rallying opposition to a proposed oil tank farm on the waterfront. To raise funds for these civic improvement campaigns, the Environment Committee organized events like the annual River City Fair, a precursor to the city’s arts and music festivals, which featured live music, dance performances, and arts and crafts for sale. They also launched the Hoboken House Tour, to the genuine astonishment of skeptical Hobokenites. By the early 1980s, the tour was drawing more visitors than longerrunning tours in Cobble Hill and Brooklyn Heights, according to one of the group’s founders, Helen Manogue. Though not an activist himself, Flanagan was friendly with many of the group’s leaders and with the colorful reform candidate, Tom Vezzetti, who was elected mayor in 1987. Flanagan, who was also a businessman, had friends on both sides, joining a real estate investment group that restored properties around the city, enabling him to leave his computer sales career and spend more time perfecting his craft.
Hoboken Antiques
Thirty Years and Counting The exhibition coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Hoboken Historical Museum, which formed as a nonprofit in 1986 with a board comprising newcomers and longtime residents, who were united by their appreciation for the city’s layered history. Before moving into its current home at 1301 Hudson St. in 2001, the museum offered exhibits in display cases in City Hall, hosting guest speakers in the backrooms of bars like the Shannon Lounge and Maxwell’s and publishing a magazine with long-form articles on Hoboken history. The most frequently photographed subjects in Flanagan’s files were the four corner shops at the intersection of 10th and Bloomfield Streets. At the beginning of the decade, they were a butcher shop, a shoe store, a deli and a laundromat. Today, they are a yoga studio, an upscale restaurant, an art gallery, and a laundromat. Some things never change.—07030
Resources For a sense of pre-gentrification Hoboken, check out the museum’s oral history chapbook series, “Vanishing Hoboken,” in which workingclass Hobokenites share recollections of the Hoboken of their youth. (hobokenmuseum. org/history/oral-history-project). For another perspective on Hoboken’s struggles with gentrification, find a copy of Nora Jacobsen’s documentary film, “Delivered Vacant,” which debuted in the New York Film Festival in 1992 (offthegridproductions.com/ delivered-vacant). Butcher Shop - Tenth and Bloomfield Street. 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2016 •
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JACK AND CO. BY ALYSSA BREDIN IMAGES BY TBISHPHOTO
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KRIS, SKYLE, LORENA
e arrive at Jack and Co. early on a Wednesday evening, just before the dinner crowd starts to roll in. The décor is a happy medium between urban chic and rustic elegance, with exposed brick walls, distressed wood floors, and hip metal bar stools at every table. It seems like the perfect spot to spend a low-key night with friends, away from the hustle and bustle of the weekend bar scene. That’s not to say that Jack and Co. doesn’t fit into the weekend bar scene. In fact, the beautiful bar is one of the highlights of this restaurant, along with a creative menu of
signature drinks. The friendly bartender, Lorena, presented us with a pair of “Jack and Jill Bloody Marys.” The “Jack” is made with bacon infused bourbon and the “Jill” with cucumber infused vodka. We also had the “Strawberry Basil Mule” a refreshing mojitotype cocktail made with vodka and ginger beer instead of tequila. There is also a variety of local craft beer on tap, with names like “Bolero Snort Ragin’ Bull Lager” and “Weyerbacher Merry Monks.” The bar certainly has a lot to offer, but the real showstopper here is the food. The menu has gourmet takes on American classics, like
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the Lobster Mac & Cheese, or the Jack and Co. Burger served with pepper jelly. We ordered the Fried Chicken BLT, which was a hearty sandwich topped with pickled veggies (coleslaw and peppers) on a brioche bun served with sweet potato waffle fries. Yes, I said sweet potato waffle fries—yum! Our server, Greg, brought this big beauty out on a wooden cutting board. Along with the traditional bar food, there’s a lot of international influence on the menu as well. From tuna tostones (chopped tuna with fried wontons and avocado) and mini gyros (chicken with fried potatoes and chipotle aioli) to the Tuscan kale and sausage soup, there’s a nice mix of flavors. At the owner’s recommendation we tried the Mediterraneaninspired grilled octopus, which was
surprisingly delicious. The octopus is crisp and smoky, served on a bed of roasted potatoes, olives, and hummus. After the small plates (not so small) we were ready for dinner. There’s something on the menu for everyone, like the pan-seared salmon with saffron coconut sauce and basmati rice, or the stuffed filet mignon with roasted potatoes in a red wine sauce. We had the Cascabel honey glazed pork chop served with a creamy potato gratin and pickled cherries. The portions here are hearty, which I never complain about. While there’s a lot to 07030 HOBOKEN ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2016 •
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please the meat-eating crowd, there are a few vegetarian options as well, like the Veggie Alfredo with asparagus, artichoke, and truffle or the vegan quinoa salad. The Roasted Cauliflower appetizer with curried almond sauce and cashews sounds truly amazing. To finish off a great meal, Greg brought us a real one-of-a-kind dessert—strawberry kumquat crumble. The tangy warm fruit blends perfectly with the crunchy topping and cool ice cream. It’s the perfect size too, not too large—we were quite full—but big enough to satisfy. When you visit, be sure to ask for this by name; they do not have a dessert menu. Whether you’re looking for gourmet or comfort food, it’s all here at Jack and Co. The bar selections will please the most discerning drinkers. This place is sure to be the next big thing in midtown Hoboken. Grab a friend or a date or even your kids and come see for yourself.—07030
GREG
Jack & Co. 700 Clinton St. (201) 239-0063 jackandconj.com
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DATES 07030 from page 47
the Manhattan skyline. Jennifer Lawrence stars as Joy, an inventor who takes on the narrow minds of business executives to bring her product into the homes of the American public.
18 170th Anniversary of Hoboken Baseball Game, Stevens Institute of Technology, Dobbelaar Field, 12 p.m. To commemorate the first officially recorded, organized baseball game, the Hoboken Nine vintage baseball team will play the Flemington Neshanock at Stevens Institute of Technology. Free.
19 Spring Family Fun Day, Hoboken Historical Museum, 1301 Hudson St., hobokenmuseum.org, (201) 6562240, 12-4 p.m. Filled with hands-on activities that stretch the imagination and encourage creativity, the afternoon offers crafts, games and a fun entertainer for the whole family to enjoy. Free.
21 Family Fun Nights – Erin Lee and the Up Past Bedtime Band, Shipyard Park, 13th Street and McFeeley Drive, (201) 420-2207, 7 p.m. Free outdoor performances for the whole family. Erin sings original songs about loose teeth, lost baseballs and other assorted joys and challenges of childhood.
looking the Manhattan skyline. Matt Damon stars as astronaut Mark Watney. When he is left behind by his crew on Mars, Watney must use his ingenuity, wit and spirit to survive on the hostile planet and find a way to get back home.
JULY 3 Downtown Storytime, Fire Department Museum, 213 Bloomfield St., hobokenmuseum.org, 12 p.m. Children ages 2 to 5 are invited to join us downtown to listen to stories. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Free.
11 Zumbini, Elysian Park, Hudson and 10th Streets, (201) 981-4474, 10 a.m. Music and movement class for children, ages 0-9 months to attend with parent or caregiver. Move, sing, dance and learn together using your bodies, instruments and scarves.
12 Family Fun Nights – Ron Albanese and his Polka Dot Pals, Shipyard Park, 13th Street and McFeeley Drive, (201) 420-2207, 7 p.m. Free outdoor performances for the whole family. Ron brings along his Polka Dot Pals for a music and comedy show like no other.
19 Story Book Theatre – A Story! A Story!, Elysian Park, 10th and Hudson Streets, 2-4 p.m. Bring to life the folktales, rhythms and music of Africa, including the original story of the Kenyan lion named Simba. Play drums, learn African rhythms, sing and dance as we explore the magic of exotic Africa.
20 Movies Under the Stars – Brooklyn, Pier A Park, between 1st Street and Sinatra Drive, (201) 420-2207, 9 p.m. Free outdoor movie screenings overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Saorise Ronan stars as a recent Irish immigrant in 1950s Brooklyn who quickly falls into a romance with a local. But when her past catches up with her, she must choose between two countries, and the lives that exist within.
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13 Movies Under the Stars – The Martian, Pier A Park, between 1st Street and Sinatra Drive, (201) 4202207, 9 p.m. Free outdoor movie screenings over-
Movies Under the Stars – Jurassic World, Pier A Park, between 1st Street and Sinatra Drive, (201)
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22 Movies Under the Stars – Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Pier A Park, between 1st Street and Sinatra Drive, (201) 420-2207, 9 p.m. Free outdoor movie screenings overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Rey, a young scavenger, and Finn, a rogue stormtrooper, along with characters both old and new, must evade the dreaded First Order to deliver vital information to the Resistance that could be the key to finding the legendary Luke Skywalker.
28 Family Fun Nights – The Fuzzy Lemons, Shipyard Park, 13th Street and McFeeley Drive, (201) 4202207, 7 p.m. Free outdoor performances for the whole family. This show, presented by staff and students from the Garden St. School of Performing Arts, will keep you jumping, grooving and moving.
29 Movies Under the Stars – The Big Short, Pier A Park, between 1st Street and Sinatra Drive, (201) 4202207, 9 p.m. Free outdoor movie screenings overlooking the Manhattan skyline. With an all-star cast including Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell, Marisa Tomei and more, this movie tells the true story of how a handful of investors bet against the U.S. mortgage market in 2006.
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DATES 07030 from page 65
420-2207, 9 p.m. Free outdoor movie screenings overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard star as employees of a new theme park built on the site of the original Jurassic Park. Everything is going well until the park’s newest attraction, a genetically modified super predator, escapes containment and goes on a killing spree.
AUGUST 3 Movies Under the Stars – Minions, Pier A Park, between 1st Street and Sinatra Drive, (201) 420-2207, 8:15 p.m. Free outdoor movie screenings overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Since the dawn of time, the minions have lived to serve the most despicable of masters. But now, protective leader Kevin, teenage rebel Stuart, and lovable Bob must stop Scarlett Overkill’s plot to take over the world, and save all of Minionkind from annihilation.
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Downtown Storytime, Fire Department Museum, 213 Bloomfield St., hoboken museum.org, 12 p.m. Children ages 2 to 5 are invited to join us downtown to listen to stories. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Free.
Story Book Theatre – Seuss on the Loose, Elysian Park, 10th and Hudson Streets, 2-4 p.m. Meet the many colorful characters of Dr. Seuss and create your own Seussical adventure as we celebrate the works of Theodore Seuss Geisel—aka Dr. Seuss.
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Family Fun Nights – Garden Street School of the Performing Arts Band, Shipyard Park, 13th Street and McFeeley Drive, (201) 420-2207, 7 p.m. Free outdoor performances for the whole family. This show, presented by staff and students from the Garden St. School of Performing Arts, will keep you jumping, grooving and moving.
Movies Under the Stars –Inside Out, Pier A Park, between 1st Street and Sinatra Drive, (201) 420-2207, 8:15 p.m. Free outdoor movie screenings overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Joy, Riley’s main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive as she and the other emotions, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust, conflict on how best to navigate the challenges of moving to a new city, house and school.
10 Movies Under the Stars – The Peanuts Movie, Pier A Park, between 1st Street and Sinatra Drive, (201) 420-2207, 8:15 p.m. Free outdoor movie screenings overlooking the Manhattan skyline. Join Charlie Brown, the world’s most beloved underdog and the rest of the Peanuts gang as they make their big-screen debut.
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SEPTEMBER 4 Downtown Storytime, Fire Department Museum, 213 Bloomfield St., hoboken museum.org, 12 p.m. Children ages 2 to 5 are invited to join us downtown to listen to stories. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Free.
25 Fall Arts and Music Festival, Washington St. between Observer Hwy. & 7th St., 11 a.m. – 6 p.m., Over 300 artists, crafters and more. Great food. Kids area on 3rd St. Three stages of live performances. For more information, contact gfallo@hobokennj.org.
29 25 Spaghetti Dinner Block Party, The Walkway on Sinatra Drive between 1st and 2nd Streets, (201) 420-2207, 5-8 p.m. Come enjoy lots of great food, live music and family atmosphere. Tickets will be available for purchase starting June 10 at City Hall in the Cultural Office.
Bark in the Park, Church Square Park, between 4th and 5th Streets and Garden Street and Willow Avenue, libertyhumane.org, 12 – 5 p.m. Half mile walk and pet expo to raise money and awareness for the Liberty Humane Society. For more information, contact lhs@libertyhumane.org.
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