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CONTENTS 07030
COVER 18 MISS NEW JERSEY USA Alexandra Lakhman Cover Photo by Jessielyn Kennedy
FEATURES 14 DRAG ME TO BRUNCH
10
Blowing up at Birch Hoboken
26 HOBOKEN MUTZFEST Celebrating Mozzarella
DEPARTMENTS 6 OUR STAFF 6 CONTRIBUTORS 8 POINT AND SHOOT Graduation 2022
10 SPORTS Resilience Adventures
22 HELPING HANDS Cards for Foster Kids
24 HOW WE LIVE Uptown Brownstone
28 EATERY Touch the Heart
24
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Summer 2022 Volume 11 • Number 1 Published twice annually A Publication of Newspaper Media Group
PUBLISHER NMG ART DIRECTOR Terri Saulino Bish DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING Tish Kraszyk
DANIEL ISRAEL
SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Ron Kraszyk VICTOR M. RODRIGUEZ
CIRCULATION Luis Vasquez FINANCIAL Sharon Metro 07030 Hoboken Magazine is published by the Newspaper Media Group, 166-168 Broadway, Bayonne, New Jersey 07002, (201) 798-7800, Email bayonnemag@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 BLP Magazine Subscriptions, 166-168 Broadway, Bayonne, NJ 07002. Not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or other unsolicited materials. Copyright ©2022 Newspaper Media Group .All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.
07030 Hoboken Magazine is a publication of Newspaper Media Group 166-168 Broadway, Bayonne, New Jersey 07002 phone 201.798.7800
DANIEL ISRAEL
is a writer and videographer. He first set foot in Bayonne in 2018. Ever since, his life has centered around the city. When he’s not working, Daniel enjoys relaxing in 16th Street Park and visiting Bayonne’s coffee shops and eateries.
VICTOR M. RODRIGUEZ
has studied photography, publication design, and graphic arts. “I’ve been fascinated by photography for 20 years,” he says.
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.
MAXIM RYAZANSKY
TARA RYAZANSKY
is a writer who 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.
TARA RYAZANSKY
TERRI SAULINO BISH
is the art director for The Hudson Reporter’s award-winning magazines and newspapers. Her work includes capturing many of the iconic photos featured in print and online across Hudson County.
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07030 CONTRIBUTORS
Fertility Success, Close to Home With an 82.5% success rate*, NJ's most state-of-the-art fertility center, and a team of compassionate experts, RMA New Jersey is the right destination for science, success, safety, and support. Our 10 office locations offer hopeful parents from across New Jersey a wide range of validated fertility treatments to make care as safe and successful as possible.
Learn more at rmanetwork.com or call us at 973-656-2089 *SART 2018 final Live Births Per New Patient data for patient’s using their own eggs for RMA New Jersey. You can view RMA New Jersey's full clinic summary on h p://www.sart.org. Please note a comparison of clinic success rates may not be meaningful because a patient’s medical characteristics, treatment approaches, and entrance criteria for assisted reproductive technology (ART) may vary from clinic to clinic.
POINT & S H O OT
Valedictorian Rowan Ellison & Teacher Christopher Munoz
Hoboken High School 2022 Images by TBishPhoto
Salutatorian Andrew Castlen & Principal Robin Piccapietra
State of the Art PRFM Procedures (Stem Cell Like) for Lameness Dr. Lillian P. Streit, VMD | Dr. Richard L. Reed, DVM By Appointment Only NM-00488073
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Resilience ADVENTURES 10 • 07030 ~ SUMMER 2022
Story and Photos by Daniel Israel
H
udson County residents may not see the Hudson River and think kayaking or boarding. However, the river is very much usable in those ways, and Resilience Adventures offers access to the wonderful water amenity right in Hoboken’s backyard. According to Noelle Thurlow, the Pier 13-based business sometimes goes by Resilience Paddlesports in addition to Resilience Adventures. But it’s about more than just paddling or athletics, Resilience Adventures also focuses on the environment. Thurlow is the director and one of the guides and educators. She said Resilience
Adventures began in Hoboken in 2014. It all started as a pilot program in 2013 after Hurricane Sandy. “I felt like people needed to reconnect in a healthy way with the water. I wanted to help our urban population be able to be outside getting healthy exercise on the water, but also build an understanding about climate change and the ecosystem of the Hudson River,” Thurlow said. They offer paddleboarding and kayaking. They have options for kayaks including those you can sit inside and those you can sit on top. Resilience Adventures offers lessons and tours along the Hudson River. The paddlesports also offer a unique opportunity for fitness in a calming and beautiful environment.
SPORTS 07030
Jeremy Roche
Those interested in joining can obtain everything from a one-time session to a monthly pass. For those invested in paddlesports on the Hudson, a season pass is available. “For adults who are local, they can come and paddle every day if they want. We also have family programs and youth programs. We have after-school and summer camps, and specific youth programs that focus on both paddling skills and environmental education.” And unique to the Hudson is its incredible urban views of the New York City skyline. The steel skyscrapers tower over the Hudson River estuary just east of Hoboken, providing a serene yet stimulating area to experience nature. “Everybody makes fun of New Jersey from New York, but we have the perfect view of Manhattan,” Thurlow said. “It’s just a beautiful place to paddle and it still is a robust ecosystem. There’s a lot of biodiversity and the water quality is good enough that we can dip in the water, although maybe not after a heavy rain. Otherwise, it’s a beautiful and fun way to spend a day or an afternoon or an hour.”
Fun for all ages and skill levels Resilience Adventures is for adults of all skill levels, but there are plenty of opportunities for all ages, especially youth. The experience is overall very environmentally educational, and offers a prime chance to teach local children about biodiversity where they live. “People think there’s nothing living in the water. I like to tell kids these are our neighbors that are living here, let’s explore. We go and try to actually find things and identify them. We’re actually
keeping a tally. We have over 85 different species that we’ve identified. It allows them hands-on, in-the-water experience. We have hip waders, nets and traps and we do catch and release.” Kids can paddle their way on the Hudson through field trips or after-school and summer programs. “We work with schools to offer hands-on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) field trips for schools. Then we have other programs like after-school or in the summer that combine paddling and the environmental education.” The field trips are coordinated through schools, but for after-school and summer programs, kids can sign up individually, as a group or club. And for older youth, Resilience Adventures has internships available. “We have internships with students from High Tech High School,” Thurlow said. “We generally draw from their AP Environmental Science students. All of our interns have come from there. Some of them really like to focus on the physical skill of paddling, so they have trained up to be better guides. On the other hand, some have had a stronger focus on teaching environmental education and facilitating workshops for the kids.” The educational opportunities also contribute to actual scientific research. Resilience Adventures offers participants a chance to get involved in “citizen science.” “Our programs with youth, they’re not just doing these activities, they’re actually collecting valuable data for research projects,” Thurlow said. “So we have a waterquality project, a biodiversity project, and then this summer, we’re partnering with
the New York and New Jersey Baykeeper to set up oyster habitats for juvenile oysters.” The water-quality project has been monitoring the quality of the river to make safety decisions about swimming in it as well as for data collection. The biodiversity project involves documenting and tracking the number of species that live in the area, which Thurlow noted there was zero documentation on the New Jersey side of the river prior to their efforts. And the oyster habitat project will obviously provide a place to live for that wildlife in the river.
On the banks of the old Hudson 07030 Hoboken conducted the interview on a kayak on the river with Thurlow and Roche. They guided our journalist through embayments in between the piers on the coast of Hoboken. While they could have ventured out into the estuary of the Hudson River between Manhattan and Hoboken, the currents were too intense for a newcomer. Thus, those seeking to paddle must schedule a guided tour from a schedule of select times. “Right here, the water is considered brackish. It’s part salty, part fresh. And an estuary is an important place for juvenile species, they spend years here as they grow. It’s also a migratory route for different fish and birds. Even though the estuary is urbanized all around it, it’s still functioning in that way. And the more that we can do to enhance, support and conserve it, the better the estuary will be for humans as well.”
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SPORTS 07030
Noelle Thurlow
Fun, educational and environmentally friendly
Daniel Israel
Jeremy Roche is another guide and educator. His excellent mustache and flowing hair have often earned him the name “Paddleboard Jesus” by those who frequent the business. Roche added: “It’s not just about preservation, it’s about restoration as well. It’s not just about keeping this how it is, it’s to make it better than it was the day before. So every day we make a positive change, even if it’s a little.” Resilience Adventures goes beyond being a fun opportunity for adults and families, but also for people living with disabilities. From the physically disabled, to those who are living with special needs,
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paddling on the water is a very accessible activity. “This one child was completely nonverbal,” Roche said. “It took about a half an hour of just patience and being calm to help him in the boat. But as soon as he got in, you had to see the look on his face and how much of a difference it made for him and how happy it was. It’s not something they would get to experience with a lot of other people. It’s really rewarding as a job to know that you’re not just making a difference in the environment, but also making a difference in these people’s lives and providing opportunities that are hard to find elsewhere.”
For Thurlow and Roche, it is not so much a job but a passion. They and the rest of the staff at Resilience Adventures are both in it for the love of the local environment and the community. In the future, Resilience Adventures hopes to become a nonprofit. It is in the process of applying to do so. “All of our adult lessons, tours, corporate programs and other things that we run that are full fee, they help to support our youth programs and our community science projects. All of those programs for youth are low cost or no cost at all, so that helps to sustain them. And we’re in the process of becoming a 501(c)(3),” Thurlow said. Overall, Resilience Adventures is seeking to connect the community with the river in their backyard. They continue to meet with local residents, organizations and more to not only protect and enhance the river, but educate and provide recreational opportunities on the Hudson River right in Hoboken’s back yard. “It’s about getting people to understand and connect with the water, so hopefully they’ll want to take care of it and want to conserve it. Sometimes people will visit nature outside of where they live, and they’ll come to think of nature as being far away. But in reality, there is nature right in their backyards in the form of the Hudson River. That’s exactly why we started this place. It’s place-based environmental education combined with adventure and recreation. Hopefully, that combination will make people want to take care of this place. It’s magnificent and right outside the door.” — 07030
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DRAG Me To BRUNCH
Blowing Up at Birch Hoboken By Tara Ryazansky Photos by Maria Suarez for Drag Me To Brunch
K
immy Sumony wants to drag me to brunch in Hoboken. When there are mimosas and a show involved, she doesn’t have to ask twice. Kimmy Sumony (that rhymes with gimme some money, by the way!) is the host of various drag brunches all over town. I first became familiar with her work at Monroe’s on Newark Street in the building that used to be Biggie’s Clam Bar. The event is called Babes Who Brunch, and it’s a lot of fun. The mimosas are bottomless, the food is delicious, and Kimmy’s drag performers are talented and hilarious. As for Kimmy, she kept the big crowd captivated from start to finish. “As a host, it’s my job not only to keep the show flowing and to make sure it’s going smoothly but also to engage the crowd; to keep them laughing,” Kimmy explains. “For the performers, the more hyped the crowd is, the more energy they give to us, the more we’re able to give it back to them. If they’re yelling, and screaming, and tipping, and clapping, then we will perform better. I like to play games with the crowd and keep them entertained. And of course, everybody loves free shots.” Upcoming event information for Babes Who Brunch can be found at @kimmysumony and @monroeshoboken on Instagram or at their website; monroesnj.com.
It’s Me Kimmy Sumony
Kimmy started doing drag about four years ago. “I had always dibbled and dabbled with hair and makeup. I’m a creative; that’s what I call myself because I like to do all types of things,” she says.
Dahlia Sin (RuPaul’s Drag Race season 11), Kimmy Sumony, Jolina Jasmine At that time, she was working in visual merchandising. “I used to dress mannequins and do window graphics, window displays all over 5th Avenue in New York City and New Jersey. I can kind of do all of that with drag. I’m my own mannequin. I can dress myself. I can do my hair, and my makeup the way I want to do it. I can be as creative as I want. It’s my brand. It’s me. It’s Kimmy Sumony.”
Do It Now At the start of her drag career, Kimmy was picking up gigs here and there while working for a department store. Then, in 2018 the store shut down. “I thought, if I don’t do it now, I’m never going to do it. This is my chance to really give drag everything that I have. Ever since then, I have had the luck to be able to do this full-time. I’m a full-time drag queen. Not a lot of people can say that. It is difficult to pick up enough gigs to supplement your lifestyle,” Kimmy says. A fulltime drag queen is never off the clock. When Kimmy isn’t performing, she’s memorizing new songs to lip-synch, choreographing performances to keep her act fresh, and managing her wardrobe and beauty looks “I love the art of drag. Yeah, on my days off, I’m working, but I never feel like I don’t want to do this. I am always growing my repertoire. I live for it.” Kimmy is inspired by the women in her family. “Kimmy is a little bit of all of the influential women in my life. I grew up with nine aunts, and they were all divas. They still are to this day. My 50, 60-year-old aunts won’t leave the house without 4-inch heels on,” Kimmy says. “That’s what I grew up around; glamour and being put together always, putting your best foot forward. That’s what I was raised with, so Kimmy is a little bit of that.” Another event that Kimmy hosts is Drag Me To Brunch at Birch Hoboken, which is upstairs from Mike’s Wild Moose Saloon on River Street. This monthly event features a brunch buffet along with the drag show that SUMMER 2022 ~ 07030 • 15
includes drag queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race. “When people hear about the RuPaul’s Drag Race girls, they get really excited because they don’t often come to New Jersey,” Kimmy says. “The brunches at Birch have really blown up because of that.”
A Lot of Fun “Kimmy is an amazing entertainer and performer. She knows how to captivate the public with her multiple talents,” says Birch hospitality manager Camilo Lema-Adarve. “She’s definitely one of our favorite queens, and that is why we have chosen her to host our events.” Check out @dragmetobrunch.nj on Instagram and dragmetobrunchnj. com for upcoming event dates. Another local spot where you can find Kimmy is at The Shepherd and the Knucklehead on July 10. Ticket details are available on Instagram at @theshep_hoboken. The drag event will be a first for the venue. “Someone who works for me goes to a bunch of drag shows. He’s gay, so he goes to a lot of these events. He told me about it,” says owner Joe Schiavo, “He knew of Kimmy. He says it’s a lot of fun, and we have a great space for it.” Kimmy’s calendar of Hoboken events is filling up fast. It seems like a town known for its sports bars might soon be known for drag brunches. “I think people are becoming more inclusive. Things are a lot different than they were ten years ago. They’re beginning to understand that we’re not going anywhere. Instead of trying to fight us or be against us why not accept us? Plus, we’re good for business,” Kimmy says. “Hoboken is known for kind of a party bar scene. People want to sip mimosas while someone is dancing in their face.” — 07030
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HOBOKEN
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SUMMER 2022 ~ 07030 • 17
MISS NEW JERSEY USA Making a Difference “T
Photo by Susan Tepelinsky
here’s so much I want to do with my reign. I want to leave an absolute legacy,” Alexandra Lakhman says with a smile as she adjusts her crown. “Some people are asking me how I’m sleeping. I’ve put a lot on my plate, but it’s all exciting stuff.” Lakhman is Miss New Jersey USA. She wants to use her title to make a difference in Hoboken and beyond.
“I have a brother who has a progressive physical disability called spinal muscular atrophy. He can’t walk, and he needs help with all of his daily life necessities. Unfortunately, to date, there is no cure for the disease,” Lakhman explains. She and her brother, Joseph Lakhman, are close. She visits him at Seton Hall, where he attends college, providing care when needed. “Throughout my life, I’ve been volunteering for the Cure SMA Organization. About four years ago, I became
Alexandra Lakhman
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the communications chair for the New Jersey Chapter. As the communications chair, I not only raise awareness about what SMA is, but I help put on different events throughout the state of New Jersey that help fund scientific research that ultimately can lead to finding a cure for the disease.” Now that she’s Miss New Jersey USA, she plans to continue her work with the organization. She met with the president of Cure SMA after winning her title last April.
Photo by Anthony Gomes
By Tara Ryazansky
Photo by Carlos Velez
Photo by Susan Tepelinsky
Photo by Jessielyn Kennedy
“I want to bring more awareness to what spinal muscular atrophy is on a national level, because not many people are familiar with it. It’s a lot more common than people think. One in four people is a carrier of the SMA gene. All it takes is for a mom and dad to both be carriers for SMA to have a 25 percent chance of having a child with SMA. A lot of people don’t know that unless you teach them that.” August is SMA Awareness month. She will be updating her Instagram at @alexandralakhman to include any upcoming events or fundraising efforts.
First-generation American “I hope that my voice can inspire those around me to advocate for what they believe in. I know not many people can relate to what Cure SMA is because it’s not active in their life. Hopefully, they can use my voice as inspiration to say, ‘Ok, here’s an organization or a cause that I’m truly passionate about, and I see what she’s doing, so I want to do something that is advocating for that.’” Lakhman also hopes to bring awareness to the crisis in Ukraine. “I’m a first-generation UkrainianAmerican,” she says. Her parents, Igor and Tami Lakhmn moved here in the 1980s. “I feel very deeply connected SUMMER 2022 ~ 07030 • 19
Photo Courtesy of Alexandra Lakhman Photo Courtesy of Alexandra Lakhman
Photo by Susan Tepelinsky
to what’s going on there because that’s where my roots are. When the war had first started, it was in news outlets, and a lot of people were aware of what was going on, but it’s lost a lot of the traction. It’s not over. If anything, it’s getting worse. I want to continue to raise awareness and help those who are affected. The refugees, the innocent people who are fighting for their lives and their country. I’m working with UNICEF, and I have plans to work with other organizations.” Lakhman says that growing up with immigrant parents inspired her drive.
Pageant Journey
Photo by Carlos Velez
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Photo by Anthony Gomes
Alexandra and Joseph. Cookies were donated by For Cups Sake NYC.
Photo by Susan Tepelinsky
“Being a first-generation American, I remember hearing the stories about how my parents immigrated over here. They had to work really hard to provide the opportunities that I have and that my brother has. I really appreciate all of the sacrifices that they made,” Lakhman says. “It was instilled in me from a young age to work really hard towards all of my goals and dreams. I continue to carry that on with any dream that I have, whether it’s career-wise or pageant-wise, it really stems from my upbringing.” Her pageant journey began in high school. Lakhman, who grew up in Old Bridge, competed for the Miss New Jersey Teen USA title in 2013 when she was 17. She was picked as the first runner-up.
MISS NEW JERSEY USA “I just fell in love with it,” Lakhman says. “I had originally done it as a way to gain confidence in myself and make new friends. Girls can be really hard in high school. I didn’t have the best experience with some girls. I ended up falling in love with competing in this system. It was something that I became very passionate about.” The following year, Lahkman aged out of the Miss New Jersey Teen USA pageant and was up for the Miss New Jersey USA title. “I actually got fourth runner up at 18 years old. I was competing against women who have full-time jobs, who have had internships and know what they want to do with their lives,” Lakhman says. “I was still a teen.” “I kept doing it year after year, always placing somewhere within the top 5,” Lakhman says. She competed throughout her college career. “I was convinced that I had a first runner-up curse. I was first runner-up 50 percent of the time that I competed.”
Career Focus After competing in her senior year, she decided to take a break from trying for the crown in order to concentrate on finishing her degree at FIT. “I really just wanted to focus on my career and growing as a young woman because pageantry is not forever, but your career is,” Lakhman now works in digital marketing at a Fortune 500 company. After taking a three-year break, she decided to compete again, and again she was first runner-up. “I thought it would be my final year of competing, a one-and-done kind of thing, and then if it’s for me, it’s for me, and if it’s not just move on, but I clearly could not move on,” Lakhman says with a laugh. “I really just didn’t want to live life with any regrets, and I didn’t want to feel unfulfilled in any way, shape, or form.” Miss New Jersey USA has an age limit of 28 years old, so Lakhman knew that at 26 she only had a few more chances to compete. When the pageant system announced that the 2022 competition would be held early this past April, Lakhman decided to go for it.
“I’m really glad that I made the decision to come back. It was on a whim, and it really was last minute. I think that going into it with a completely different mindset is actually what allowed me to win because I wasn’t hyper-focused on it. I’m so glad I did,” Lakhman says. “I’m really honored, proud, and it still feels really surreal for me. In between events and appearances, Lakhman can be found hanging out in Hoboken. Her favorite spot is Project Sculpt, a gym she’s been attending since she first moved here during the pandemic era when fitness classes were outdoors. “You honestly see incredible results. I even converted my boyfriend to being a full-time member there.”
What’s Next She also loves Studio L, a dance school in the Monroe Center. “I owe a lot of my pageantry success to them because I used to practice my walking in that studio all the time.” Now, Lakhman gets to take a break from the pageant preparations and enjoy her reign. “Anytime I get a little bit of downtime is when I just soak it in. It’s so surreal,” she says, relaxing for a moment but not for too long. Next up is the Miss USA pageant. That means Lakhman begins working with a trainer, a nutritionist, and a pageant coach. There’s a wardrob to plan. Her favorite part is practicing for interview questions at Miss Academy, a pageant school founded by the president of the Miss USA Foundation. “You learn a lot about yourself,” she explains. “You get to discover things about yourself that you didn’t know. In order to answer any questions that they may ask you, you really need to know yourself.” Lakhman wants to bring an even bigger crown back to Hoboken, one that has never been won for this state within the 70-year history of the pageant. “I’m representing New Jersey, so I want to make New Jersey proud,” Lakhman says. “I want to be the best that I can be and bring the title of Miss New Jersey USA to New Jersey for the first time.”—07030
HELPING Jordan Lacey
KEEP
SHINING Light The Candle for Foster Kids By Tara Ryazansky Photos by Julia Guignard
E
veryone deserves to have a happy birthday. Jordan Lacey, the CEO and founder of Light The Candle, came up with the concept for her organization when she was just a teenager.
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“When I was 17 years old my cousins were adopted through foster care,” Lacey explains. “The thing that first opened my eyes to the foster care system was having these two new family members.” At the time, she was a high school student at Mater Dei Prep in Middletown, New Jersey. “Seeing how much my cousins’ lives changed moving in with my family and
getting that positive, loving environment it just sparked the question, ‘How many other children are out there who are like them, and what can I do to help these other kids?’ The biggest thing was just trying to figure out how can we make other kids who are in the foster care system smile.” Lacey came up with the idea of birthday cards.
“Every child has a birthday,” Lacey says. “A lot of these children might not know their birth story, or they might now know their parents. They might not have anything unique with their name spelled out on it. That can be super special.” She started a group at her school. “It was the Light The Candle Club,” Lacey says. “It kind of spread like rapid fire to a nearby high school, to my dance team at the time, then we started talking to some Girl Scout groups, some Boy Scout groups, and some church groups.”
High School Mission The club, along with volunteers, created personalized birthday cards for foster kids in group homes all over New Jersey and beyond. “They’re handmade custom cards,” says Lacey, adding that they are for foster kids ages 0-18, and 18-21 for special needs folks who age out of the foster system later. “We encourage all of our volunteers to really take your time on the cards. We ask them to take 30 minutes to an hour per card. We ask them to write a really sweet message in there, something super positive. We ask for quotes. We’ll give them directions, like for example, a girl is turning 15 and she likes gymnastics, so it’s something super special and curated to their interests.” She also pairs volunteers with foster kids in their same age range when possible. Lacey says, “It’s just so awesome to see that there’s someone who is a similar age to you and all they’re asking for is a simple card. Kids can be so creative when they’re making a card for another kid.”
When Lacey graduated from high school, she didn’t forget her mission. “I brought it with me to college at Johnson & Wales University,” she says. “Then, when I moved out post-grad to Hoboken, I was able to really spread this idea.” Now, Light The Candle has over 30 high school chapters.
More Than Cards “I think that you’re never too young to make a difference. I empower my chapter presidents to make decisions for their chapters. I think it fosters leadership. It brings me back to how I was in high school,” Lacey says. She credits her involvement with the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) as an inspiration for her community involvement. “At first, when I was in high school I used to think maybe I would do this later in life, once I start working or once I had a family, but the more I thought about it the more I wanted to do it then and now. The flick of one light can light a whole room.” Lacey aims to inspire young people. As a black woman, she hopes to inspire others as well. “As a female non-profit owner and also a black non-profit owner, I try to highlight that to make sure that other young women and other people of color know that you can do it too,” Lacey says. Lacey says that approximately 1000 kids have received birthday cards from Light The Candle. Now, the organization is expanding its mission. “We created a care closet at one of the foster homes down in southern New Jersey,” Lacey says. “It’s a closet inside one of the group homes where the foster
parents or social workers or even the foster kids themselves can come and pick out tampons, shampoo, diapers, a lot of items. We’re happy to be able to do more beyond the need of birthday cards.” You can help Light The Candle with its mission by donating or volunteering. More information can be found at welightthecandle.org or @welightthecandle on Instagram. “We would love more donations as we build out our care closets. We would love support. We have a goal to hopefully have them in all of the group homes that we provide cards to,” Lacey says. Volunteering can be a party too. “Some people want to do a birthday party. We’ve had children who want to donate or do a charitable effort for their birthday. They might fundraise, or they might make cards as their activity.” As for Lacey’s cousins, they are big fans of her work. “They love it. They’re our source of inspiration,” Lacey says. “This is a family organization as well. My mom is actively involved in it. My dad helps as well. My grandparents are involved too.” Lacey keeps the candle burning. “I chose the name Light The Candle because I think a child is like a candle,” Lacey says. “We always sign all of our cards ‘Keep Shining’ to encourage a child that their light will always shine bright no matter what situation that they’re in. We want them to know that we’re there for them. We’re their friend, their partner, and we want them to keep shining and to encourage them.”— 07030
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Tara Ryazansky Photos by Max Ryazansky
Uptown Brownstone Victoria Alario greets me at the door of her uptown brownstone. The place is beautiful with old architectural detail. The archways and high ceilings in her entryway make the space feel grand. Just off the entrance is a comfortable living room with an extensive book collection and items that Alario found in her travels. She says that she visited Italy last summer around the same time that she signed her lease. She found this apartment while still living in Miami, Florida. “It was probably 2 AM when it just became listed. I texted the number right away. I knew this apartment would go. When I got in touch with them, there were already more than ten applications in, but I said, ‘I’m getting this apartment. I don’t care what number I am.’ I was like, ‘Whatever you’re getting, I’ll beat it,’” Alario says. That kind of certainty and decision-making is typical for Alario, who is the host of a podcast called For The Girls that gives advice to young women on topics like dating, friendship, money, and business. Alario’s favorite topic to cover is confidence.
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“That’s the main premise of my podcast. The underlying message is always about confidence. It comes naturally to me,” Alario says. “I’ve always been the way that I am. Of course, as girls, we can get emotional and insecure, that’s just our make-up, but I’ve always known that people either love you or hate you, and I don’t like people who don’t like me. A lot of people want people to like them. But I’m just like, ‘If you don’t like me, well, I don’t like you.’ I just don’t really care to please anybody. I’m just me. It’s attracted amazing, high-quality people into my life. It’s also turned off a lot of people because I’m very honest and I’m very outspoken.” For The Girls attracts all kinds of listeners. “The girl I’m speaking to doesn’t have an age, she doesn’t have a demographic, she has a very big desire to have more in life. This is for the girls who say, ‘I can have it all,” Alario says that she has listeners of various ages. “I get a lot of women in their 40s or 50s who say, ‘I wish I thought like her at that age.’ I also get a lot of, ‘You’re like a big sister energy.’ from the younger ones. I have a more traditional style with how I see things, but I’m the middle man. I’m the modern woman who speaks her mind but also with that traditional flare when it comes to my values, my morals, and things like that.” Modern and traditional are also words that could describe Alario’s design aesthetic. She seamlessly pairs antique-style pieces like a
Victoria Alario
white column or a stone fireplace mantle with trendy decor items like pampas grass and figural sculptures. “My vibe is vintage but also classic,” she says. “Florida was very modern. Everything was very crisp. Everything had to be marble and white,” Alario says that while she likes a neutral look, it was a little bit sterile. “It gives hospital vibes. Some of these things never matched my Florida apartment.” Alario is originally from Staten Island, so Hoboken isn’t entirely new to her. She used to enjoy nights out here before moving to Florida. “I was ready to come back up north, but I wasn’t moving back on Staten Island,” she says she wanted something walkable. Hoboken was the perfect place for her. “I love it here. I’m such a homebody. I love just staying in my neighborhood and going for walks and chilling.” Some favorite spots include Tosti Cafe, Saku, and The Madison Bar & Grill. “I love their fish tacos,” she says of The Madison. She makes her own as well. “I love my kitchen. I like to cook, but I make the same stuff all the time. I love making fish tacos. I also make sauce; regular marinara sauce, or vodka sauce, which is my personal favorite.” Making sauce is a family tradition for Alario, who is ItalianAmerican. She points out old family photos in several rooms. “That’s my grandmother. She looks like an old movie actress in that photo,” she says. Off the kitchen is a room that looks like it’s definitely for the girls. The place is a shoe lover’s dream, with heels and boots lined up on display shelves. Alario transformed an extra bedroom into a wardrobe area where she gets ready to start her day. “It’s such a cute little girly area.” Across from that is her office. “This is where I podcast. I feel like I’m in my own world when I’m in here,” she says, adding that in her first apartment, her desk was in the living room, which wasn’t great for productivity. Having a dedicated workspace was essential for her. Alario also does direct sales for a beauty brand called Monat. She works as a social media influencer and does consulting as well. She points out some prints on her office wall that she had framed locally at Framing On Washington. She happened to be passing by and wanted to support a local shop. “Azim did a great job,” Alario says. Alario says that her favorite room in the apartment is her bedroom. She points out a gallery wall of mirrors that she hung herself. “Some are vintage. Some are from Amazon,” she says. Alario also added some molding detail pieces and brightened the place up with a fresh coat of paint. It’s a good thing the apartment is so spacious because Alario has a new endeavor on the horizon. “I’m in the middle of launching a brand too. I don’t have too much to say yet, because it’s still in the works,” Alario says that it should be ready at the end of the summer or the beginning of fall. “It’s going to be the definition of a small business. Everything is going to operated out of here.”— 07030
SUMMER 2022 ~ 07030 • 25
HOBOKEN MUTZFEST Photo by Tara Ryazansky
A Celebration of Mozzarella
By Tara Ryazansky
U
nder the 14th Street Viaduct, Frank Sinatra plays over big speakers while vendors set up their tents. Mozzarella is sliced and plated. Even though the event has yet to begin, a line is already forming. Hoboken is ready for the 10th annual Mutzfest. “The art of making mutz like that is a real passion for the deli owners,” says Theresa Howard, the Director of Children with Special Needs at Hoboken Family Alliance. “It’s one of those lost arts. It’s part of the Hoboken heritage.” Mutzfest is also organized by Hoboken Family Alliance president Michele Hulsman, director of finance Meredith Hayes, and director of new initiative Francoise Vielot. The event helps fund the work that the Hoboken Family Alliance does in the community. “One of the initiatives that Mutzfest helps fund is called the Hoboken
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Hoboken Family Alliance Bike Camp. Photos courtesy of Theresa Howard
Bike Camp. It’s a camp that teaches children with disabilities how to ride a twowheel bike in just one week,” Howards says that the camp, which teaches children with cognitive disabilities like Down syndrome and Autism spectrum disorder, is in its eleventh year. “The first year that I ran it was a little overwhelming. There’s a lot that goes into it. I needed to have more money to cover the cost.” Howard wanted to come up with a unique idea for a fundraiser. “I was running one morning, and I was trying to think of what I could do that would be a good event that doesn’t necessarily rely on the charitable component. I wanted to have something that would stand on its own regardless of any affiliated charity,” Howard explains. “There are so many charities out there, and everybody is asking for money. I wanted to create something that was just a great standalone Hoboken event. Then I thought, everybody always says that they have the
Photo by Tara Ryazansky
Photo by Tara Ryazansky
Photo by Tara Ryazansky
Photo by Tara Ryazansky
best mutz. Who really does? I thought maybe we could have everybody face off about who really has the best mozzarella.” She enlisted some Hoboken deli owners who were up for the challenge. “Vito’s and Biancamano’s have done it every year since the beginning,” Howard says, adding that they usually have approximately 5-7 delis that participate. Over at the vendor area, Peter Biancamano of M&P Biancamano on Washington Street helps his parents layer fresh mozzarella with roasted red peppers on Italian bread. This sandwich was named New Jersey’s best sandwich by Food & Wine magazine. “Theresa Howard of the Hoboken Family Alliance is doing an absolutely phenomenal job,” Biancamano says. Vito Buzzerio of Vito’s Deli agrees. “Theresa Howard is such a wonderful person, and we love to support the Hoboken Family Alliance. This is our 10th anniversary here. We’re one of the founding fathers. It’s growing every year, and we always look forward to it. It’s a lot of fun.” For the first few years, Mutzfest was a contest. “I wanted to find a way to, instead of dividing people, to unite everybody for one great celebration of mozzarella, so we just dropped the voting after a few years. Nobody seemed to miss a beat as far as attending. Everybody still loved it anyway,”
Photo courtesy of Peter Biancamano
Photo by Tara Ryazansky
Howard says. “Before, it was a competition of who had the best mutz, and now it’s a celebration of the city’s best mutz.” Other vendors this year included Hoboken’s Dolce & Salato, Tony Boloney’s, and newcomer Jersey City’s Veloce. “We just opened this year. It’s our first time at Mutzfest and we’re happy to be here,” says Veloce owner James Aliotta. “I’m the third generation deli business in my family. In Italian Veloce means fast, and we’re a fast specialty sandwich shop.” He quickly portions mozzarella balls and cherry tomatoes on plates. The line starts filing in. Bottles are being popped in the beer and wine garden. Volunteers from Hoboken Family Alliance give attendees punch cards so they can keep track of which mutz they’ve tried. It’s a happy day, but rumors are swirling that this might be the last year for Mutzfest. “We’ll have to see about next year. It’s been ten years. These guys have put up so much time, effort, and labor. It’s their blood, sweat, and tears,” Howard says, but she won’t confirm or deny the future status of Mutzfest. Meanwhile the stage is being set up for a Frank Sinatra sing-a-long. The Best Is Yet To Come starts playing. I’ll take that as a good omen. — 07030 SUMMER 2022 ~ 07030 • 27
By Tara Ryazansky Photos by Max Ryazansky
T
ouch The Heart offers a feast for the senses. A giant floral mural by tattoo artist Christian Masot adorns one wall. Real plants and flowers decorate the space as well. The restaurant concept initially included an in-house flower shop, and while the focus is on food now, the evidence remains. “A lot of times, people choose us because of our aesthetic and our ambiance,” says Nick Andelora, who co-owns the restaurant with others, including Dan Grey and chef Anthony Leonido. He adds that the decor is one detail that makes Touch The Heart an excellent choice for events. There’s no need to worry about bringing your own decorations.
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The space is definitely beautiful, but it’s the dim sum for me. Touch The Heart’s menu is unique. “When you’re dealing with fusion, you want to bring in different flavors and different ideas from other cuisines,” Andelora explains. “The cheeseburger dumpling is always the one example that I give. We’re doing things that are different from the typical pork dumplings that you find and Chinese places. We took an American favorite and put an Asian twist on it.” Andelora and Grey came up with the idea for Touch The Heart together. “We thought that Hoboken as a city was missing Chinese food the way that we do it. Chinese food lends itself to being a very takeout and delivery-focused cuisine. We didn’t think there was anyplace else like this.
EATERY 07030
Most of the Chinese spots that you find have very minimal dine-in or none at all. There was no nice, elevated, sit-down Chinese. Sushi? Yes, as in Saku,” Andelora says, adding that Grey is the owner of Saku and Leonido used to be the head kitchen chef there before the creation of Touch The Heart. The first item I tried was Fried Chicken Bao. A perfect bite of fried chicken topped with pickles and spicy mayo on a slightly sweet bun made for a great starter. The flavor combination reminded me a bit of chicken and waffles. Next up was the Edamame Dumplings. They were fresh and delicious. It was nice to see that the menu included some vegetarian options, especially since traditional dim sum restaurants can sometimes be lacking in that department when it comes to dumplings.
“We wanted to make sure that we had a lot of options that were not meat and that were not fried,” Andelora says. The final plate that I tried was Miso Crab Noodles. They were the standout item. The dish was rich and creamy with a slightly spicy kick. The umami flavor and fresh crab made this an easy choice as my favorite. So many other menu items at Touch The Heart looked tempting. I think I will have to visit again to try the General Tso Chicken Dumplings and the Birria Dumplings. Also on the menu are mocktails by the pitcher or the glass. Touch The Heart is a BYOB establishment. “At the majority of BYOB spots, people are just bringing a six-pack of beer or a bottle of wine,” Andelora says. “We wanted to set ourselves apart SUMMER 2022 ~ 07030 • 29
EATERY 07030
from the traditional BYOB, so we created mocktails; cocktails without the liquor. We put on the menu what alcohol they pair best with. It’s one of our main selling points, especially for events, because you can bring a bottle of alcohol to create your drinks here. It can bring the price tag down a little bit for people who are concerned with that. They’re colorful and beautiful, and we rotate them seasonally.” Touch The Heart also has a brunch menu that features tea service and creative dumplings and baos alongside typical brunch items like Eggs Benedict and Avocado Toast. Brunch is available on Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Touch The Heart recently started a new special.
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“On Monday, we do dollar dumplings. It’s really taken off,” Andelora says. “We figured since a lot of places are closed on Mondays, it would be fun.” I asked Andelora how they came up with the restaurant name. “Dim sum basically translates to “touch the heart” in Chinese,” he says, explaining that dumplings are meant to touch the heart rather than fill the stomach. However, I have to say that the five dumpling portions seemed generous to me. Andelora lets me know that Hoboken touched his heart. The business opened early into the pandemic in July 2020. “Hoboken is wonderful,” he says. “The people were tremendous throughout COVID. Hoboken as a community stepped up and supported businesses when they needed it.” — 07030
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