JERSEY CITY MAGAZINE by Hudson Reporter Assoc., LP

SPRING | SUMMER 2017

Accidental Activists

Film Fiends River Pilots Innovation High New Gold Coast Helping Refugees

NEW JERSEY

NEW YORK CITY

HAMPTONS

CONNECTICUT

HUDSON VALLEY

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HOBOKEN PLATINUM LEVEL

HOBOKEN GOLD LEVEL

Matt Brown

Peter Cossio

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MONTCLAIR GOLD LEVEL

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Elaine Pardalos

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MONTCLAIR BRONZE LEVEL

HOBOKEN BRONZE LEVEL

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CONTENTS JCM

COVER 14 ACCIDENTAL ACTIVISTS Courageous Survivors Cover Painting by Terri Saulino Bish| tbishphoto Original photo courtesy of Beth DiCara

FEATURES 20 SAFE HAVEN Welcoming Refugees

28 LADY LIBERTY MUSEUM New girl in town

60 ROOSEVELT STADIUM

What’s Next?

46 ON THE WATERFRONT Sandy Hook River Pilots

52 HOW WE LIVE Park Foundry

56 HOW WE WORK Small Businesses

64 EATERY Talde

68 WATERING HOLE Pint

71 DINING OUT Listings

52 DEPARTMENTS 10 CONTRIBUTORS 11 EDITOR’S LETTER 24 STUDIO Jewelry artist

31 DATES 32 PEOPLE POWER Bill and Michele Sorvino

36 EMERGING Square One

38 ARTS Novel set in JC

42 EDUCATION Innovation High School

4 • Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017

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ŚŝůĞ ŵŽƐƚ ĂƚŚŽůŝĐƐ ƐƟůů ƉƌĞĨĞƌ ĨƵůů-ďŽĚǇ ďƵƌŝĂů͕ ƚŽĚĂǇ ƐŽŵĞ ĨĂŵŝůŝĞƐ ŵĂǇ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌ ĐƌĞŵĂƟŽŶ ĂƐ ĂŶ ĂůƚĞƌŶĂƟǀĞ ƚŽ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů ďƵƌŝĂů͘ >ŝŬĞ Ă ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů ďƵƌŝĂů͕ ĐŚŽŽƐŝŶŐ Ă ƉĞƌŵĂŶĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ĚŝŐŶŝĮĞĚ ƌĞƐƟŶŐ ƉůĂĐĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŚƵŵĂŶ ĐƌĞŵĂƚĞĚ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ŽĨ Ă ĚĞƉĂƌƚĞĚ ůŽǀĞĚ ŽŶĞ ŝƐ ĞƋƵĂůůǇ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ͕ ĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůǇ ĨŽƌ ůŽǀĞĚ ŽŶĞƐ ǁŚŽ ǁŝůů ǀŝƐŝƚ͕ ƉƌĂǇ͕ ĂŶĚ ƌĞŵĞŵďĞƌ͘

ƵƌŝĂů 'ƵŝĚĞůŝŶĞƐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ sĂƟĐĂŶ͙ ZĞĐĞŶƚ ŝŶƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ sĂƟĐĂŶ ƌĞƐƚĂƚĞƐ ƚŚĞ ĚŽĐƚƌŝŶĂů ĂŶĚ ƉĂƐƚŽƌĂů ƌĞĂƐŽŶƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŚƵƌĐŚ͛Ɛ ďƵƌŝĂů ƉƌĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĨĂŝƚŚĨƵů ĚĞƉĂƌƚĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ŚƵƌĐŚ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƐ ƚŽ ƉƌĞĨĞƌ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĂĐƟĐĞ ŽĨ ďƵƌǇŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ďŽĚŝĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĚĞĐĞĂƐĞĚ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ƚŚŝƐ ƐŚŽǁƐ Ă ŐƌĞĂƚĞƌ ĞƐƚĞĞŵ ƚŽǁĂƌĚƐ ƚŚĞ ĚĞƉĂƌƚĞĚ͘ EĞǀĞƌƚŚĞůĞƐƐ͕ ĐƌĞŵĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ ŶŽƚ ƉƌŽŚŝďŝƚĞĚ ƵŶůĞƐƐ ŝƚ ǁĂƐ ĐŚŽƐĞŶ ĨŽƌ ƌĞĂƐŽŶƐ ĐŽŶƚƌĂƌǇ ƚŽ ŚƌŝƐƟĂŶ ĨĂŝƚŚ͘ tŚĞŶ ĐƌĞŵĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ ĐŚŽƐĞŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ŚƵŵĂŶ ĐƌĞŵĂƚĞĚ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ŵƵƐƚ ďĞ ůĂŝĚ ƚŽ ƌĞƐƚ ŝŶ Ă ƐĂĐƌĞĚ ƉůĂĐĞ ;ŝ͘Ğ͕͘ Ă ĂƚŚŽůŝĐ ĐĞŵĞƚĞƌǇͿ͘ dŚŝƐ ƐŚŽǁƐ ĚƵĞ ƌĞƐƉĞĐƚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĨĂŝƚŚĨƵů ĚĞƉĂƌƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ĞŶƐƵƌĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞǇ ĂƌĞ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƉƌĂǇĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ƌĞŵĞŵďƌĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĂƚŚŽůŝĐ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚǇ͘ ,ƵŵĂŶ ĐƌĞŵĂƚĞĚ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĨĂŝƚŚĨƵů ĚĞƉĂƌƚĞĚ ƐŚŽƵůĚ ŶŽƚ ďĞ ƐĐĂƩĞƌĞĚ͕ ŬĞƉƚ ŝŶ ŽŶĞ͛Ɛ ŚŽŵĞ͕ Žƌ ĚŝǀŝĚĞĚ ĂŵŽŶŐ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ͘

^ĂĐƌĞĚ͕ ^ĂĨĞ͕ ƚĞƌŶĂů͙ ŵĞŵŽƌŝĂů Ăƚ ĂƚŚŽůŝĐ ĞŵĞƚĞƌŝĞƐ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ ĨĂŵŝůŝĞƐ͕ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐ ĂŶĚ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ Ă ƉĞƌŵĂŶĞŶƚ ƉůĂĐĞ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĞŵďĞƌ ĂŶĚ ƉĂǇ ƚƌŝďƵƚĞ ƚŽ ƚŚĂƚ ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ůŝĨĞ͘ /ƚ ĂůƐŽ ĂƐƐƵƌĞƐ ƚŚĞ ĚŝŐŶŝĮĞĚ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽƉĞƌ ůŽŶŐ-ƚĞƌŵ ĐĂƌĞ ŽĨ ůŽǀĞĚ ŽŶĞƐ ŝŶ Ă ƐĂĨĞ͕ ŚŽůǇ ƉůĂĐĞ͘ ĞƚĂŝůĞĚ ƌĞĐŽƌĚƐ ŽīĞƌ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ĂƐƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ ƚŚĂƚ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ ĐĂŶ ŝĚĞŶƟĨǇ ĂŶĚ ŐĂŝŶ ĂĐĐĞƐƐ ƚŽ ƉƌĞĐŝŽƵƐ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐŚŝƉƐ͕ ŚŝƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ǇŽƵƌ ĨĂŵŝůǇ ƚƌĞĞ͘ <ĞĞƉŝŶŐ Ŷ hƌŶ Ăƚ ,ŽŵĞ͍ /Ĩ ǇŽƵ ĂƌĞ ŚŽůĚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŚƵŵĂŶ ĐƌĞŵĂƚĞĚ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ŽĨ Ă ůŽǀĞĚ ŽŶĞ Ăƚ ŚŽŵĞ͕ ǁŚĞƚŚĞƌ ƚŚĞǇ ĚĞƉĂƌƚĞĚ ƌĞĐĞŶƚůǇ Žƌ ŵĂŶǇ ǇĞĂƌƐ ĂŐŽ͕ ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌ ďƌŝŶŐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŵ ƚŽ Ă ĂƚŚŽůŝĐ ĐĞŵĞƚĞƌǇ͘ dŚĞ ĚŝŐŶŝĮĞĚ ĂŶĚ ƉĞƌŵĂŶĞŶƚ ŝŶƚĞƌŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ŚƵŵĂŶ ĐƌĞŵĂƚĞĚ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ŝŶ Ă ŚŽůǇ ƉůĂĐĞ ƉƌŽƉĞƌůǇ ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝǌĞƐ ƚŚĞ KƌĚĞƌ ŽĨ ŚƌŝƐƟĂŶ &ƵŶĞƌĂůƐ͘ ĐĐŽŵŵŽĚĂƟŽŶƐ ĂƌĞ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ƚŽ ƉůĂĐĞ Ă ůŽǀĞĚ ŽŶĞ ŝŶ Ă ŐƌĂǀĞ Žƌ ŶŝĐŚĞ Žƌ ŝŶ ĂŶ ĞǆŝƐƟŶŐ ƌĞƐƟŶŐ ƉůĂĐĞ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ǁĂǇƐ ƚŽ ŚŽŶŽƌ Ăƚ Ă ĂƚŚŽůŝĐ ĐĞŵĞƚĞƌǇ ƚŚŽƐĞ ǁŚŽƐĞ ŚƵŵĂŶ ĐƌĞŵĂƚĞĚ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ƐĐĂƩĞƌĞĚ Žƌ ŽƚŚĞƌǁŝƐĞ ĂƌĞ ƵŶĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŽ ĞŶƐƵƌĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞǇ ǁŝůů ďĞ ƉƌĂǇĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĂƐ ǁĞ ĚŽ ĨŽƌ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ĨĂŝƚŚĨƵů ĚĞƉĂƌƚĞĚ͘ tĞ ǁŝůů ĂƐƐŝƐƚ ǇŽƵ ŝŶ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ĂĐĐŽŵŵŽĚĂƟŽŶƐ ƚŽ ŵĞŵŽƌŝĂůŝǌĞ ͞/Ŷ DĞŵŽƌǇ KĨ͟ ĂŶ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂů ƚŽ Ă ŶŝĐŚĞ͕ ŐƌĂǀĞ Žƌ ĞǆŝƐƟŶŐ ŚĞĂĚƐƚŽŶĞ ƐŽ ǇŽƵƌ ůŽǀĞĚ ŽŶĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ ƉƌĂǇĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĂŶĚ ƌĞŵĞŵďĞƌĞĚ͘

>Ğƚ hƐ 'ƵŝĚĞ zŽƵ͙ dŚĞ ƉƌŽŵŝƐĞ ŽĨ ĂƚŚŽůŝĐ ĞŵĞƚĞƌŝĞƐ ŝƐ ƚŽ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ Ă ĚŝŐŶŝĮĞĚ͕ ƉĞƌŵĂŶĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ƐĂĐƌĞĚ ƌĞƐƟŶŐ ƉůĂĐĞ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĐƌĞŵĂƚĞĚ ƌĞŵĂŝŶƐ ŽĨ ǇŽƵƌ ůŽǀĞĚ ŽŶĞ͕ ǁŚĂƚĞǀĞƌ ǇŽƵƌ ŶĞĞĚƐ͘ ^ƉĞĂŬ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ƚƌĂŝŶĞĚ DĞŵŽƌŝĂů WůĂŶŶŝŶŐ ĚǀŝƐŽƌ ƚŽĚĂǇ͘ ^ƚŽƉ ďǇ͕ ĐĂůů͕ Žƌ ǀŝƐŝƚ ŽŶůŝŶĞ͘

&KHFN RXW RXU YLGHRV

ǁǁǁ͘ ĞŵĞƚĞƌǇDŝŶŝƐƚƌǇ͘ŽƌŐ ϴϴϴ-ϰϵϴ-ϱϮϬϵ

A Ministry of the Archdiocese of Newark CATHOLIC CEMETERIES For Our Catholic Community

Jersey MAGAZINE

CITY

SPRING | SUMMER 2017 Vo l u m e 1 4 • N u m b e r 1 A Publication of The Hudson Reporter

PUBLISHERS Lucha Malato, David Unger EDITOR IN CHIEF Kate Rounds GRAPHICS STAFF Terri Saulino Bish, Alyssa Bredin, Lisa M. Cuthbert, Ines Rodriguez, Pasquale Spina COPYEDITING Christopher Zinsli ADVERTISING MANAGER Tish Kraszyk SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Toni Anne Calderone Ron Kraszyk ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Jay Slansky John Ward CIRCULATION MANAGER Roberto Lopez CIRCULATION Luis Vasquez ACCOUNTING Sharon Metro, Veronica Aldaz Jersey City Magazine is published two times a year by The Hudson Reporter Associates, L.P., 1400 Washington St., Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (201) 798-7800, Fax (201) 798-0018. Email jcmag@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 JCMagazine Subscriptions, 447 Broadway, Bayonne, NJ 07002. Not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or other unsolicited materials. Copyright ©2017, Hudson Reporter Associates L.P. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

Jersey City Magazine 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: jcmag@hudsonreporter.com jerseycitymagazine.com

6 • Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017

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WHO WHAT WHERE WHEN TO START For some, having a baby can take more time, especially once you’re in your mid-30s. If you’re having trouble getting or staying pregnant, don’t wait. With a 63.2% success rate, well above the national average,* and treatment times measured in months—not years—the leaders at Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey can help now. Now with 25 expert physicians, we offer convenient appointment hours at ten locations: Basking Ridge, Eatontown, Englewood, Freehold, Hamilton, Morristown, Somerset, Springfield, West Orange, and now in Marlton.

Speak with a personal patient liaison and start finding your answers today. Call 973-656-2089 or visit www.rmanj.com. *SART 2014; Cumulative Outcome Per Intended Retrieval; Preliminary Chance of Live Birth Per Cycle. 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. Visit www.sart.org to learn more.

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ADRIANA RAMBAY FERNÁNDEZ ALYSSA BREDIN

TERRI SAULINO BISH

MAXIM RYAZANSKY VICTOR M. RODRIGUEZ

C O N T R I B U T O R S

DELFIN GANAPIN

AL SULLIVAN TARA RYAZANSKY

TERRI SAULINO BISH

VICTOR M. RODRIGUEZ

is an award-winning graphic designer, digital artist, and photographer, capturing many of the iconic images featured in print and online publications across Hudson County. You can view more of her work at tbishphoto.com.

has studied publication design, photography, and graphic arts. “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.

ALYSSA BREDIN

MAX RYAZANKSY

is an award-winning designer and photographer. Her work is featured in numerous publications, including Hoboken 07030 and Jersey City Magazine. You can see her full portfolio at tbishphoto.com.

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.

ADRIANA RAMBAY FERNÁNDEZ

TARA RYAZANSKY

is a freelance writer and yoga teacher. She is also an MFA candidate at the Bennington Writing Seminars. Happy to call Jersey City home, she finds it is an endless source of creative inspiration. You can find her online at: http://adrianarambay.com/

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.

DELFIN GANAPIN 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.

10 • Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017

AL SULLIVAN has been a staff writer for the Hudson Reporter newspaper chain since 1992. He was named journalist of the year in 2001 by the New Jersey Press Association, and photographer of the year in 2005 by the Garden State Journalists Association. In 2001, Rutgers University Press published a collection of his work, Everyday People: Profiles from the Garden State.

PHOTO BY MARIE PAPP

EDITOR'S LETTER JCM

Triumphing Over Tragedy

ur cover story is about some of our Jersey City neighbors who have transcended horrible personal tragedies by giving back to the community. We’re calling them “Accidental Activists.” By trying to bring light out of darkness, they’ve involved themselves in issues and in ways they never imagined they would. We salute Paul Bellan-Boyer, Beth DiCara, and Kara Hrabosky. Their stories are uplifting; their circumstances heartbreaking. With the plight of immigrants and refugees all over the headlines, our team of Max and Tara Ryazansky take a look at Church World Service, a Jersey City organization that helps refugees settle in our area. Even though it rises magnificently from the Hudson River, gracing Jersey City’s front yard, we sometimes take Lady Liberty for granted. But there’s big news. In the works is a new Statue of Liberty Museum. It’s not just for international tourists. When it debuts in 2019, I’ll probably be first in line. Speaking of the river, Max and Tara hopped aboard with a Sandy Hook see page 41

Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 •

Shop, Dine, Live, Art, Work in Our Family Friendly Neighborhood

Your friendly neighborhood Central Avenue shopping district has over 240 storefronts offering a large variety of goods and services. From dining to clothing, you will get everything you need and find something new every time you visit. Shopping local supports many independent “mom and pop” businesses and over 1,200 jobs in the district. Also, shoppers pay only half the sales tax at participating UEZ Registered businesses.

KING’S SON

Winner of New Jersey Best Sub/Hoagie Shop Showdown!

TUXEDO RENTALS

ANDREA SALUMERIA

Menswear

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Best Imported & Domestic Cold Cuts Fresh Homemade Mozzarella Catering For All Occasions PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1975

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BREAKFAST SALADS WRAPS PANINI SOUP OPE N

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DAHLIA’S ICE CREAM SPOT

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Pollo a la Brasa y comida Peruana

Especialidad En . Comida Criolla . Pescado . Mariscos

www.elgordochicken.com 291 Central Avenue . Jersey City

201.706.3425

12 • Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017

TRY OUR DELICIOUS FLAVORS! Ice Cream Cones, Milkshakes, Sundaes, Smoothies, Banana Splits, Slushes, Yogurt and much more.

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Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 â&#x20AC;¢

AC C I D E N TA L ACTIVISTS

Emma

Turning unspeakable tragedies into forces for good

BY BETH DICARA

6 a.m. on the Monday following Thanksgiving, Dec. 1, 2014, my husband John and I were awakened by the doorbell. Two Jersey City police officers stood in the doorway. One officer handed me a yellow Post-it note with the phone number of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and “Emma” written on it. They told me to call that number, and promptly left. Our daughter, Emma Kate DiCara Tichenor, had gone to college at Dalhousie University in Halifax to study marine biology. Even as a little kid, she loved animals, all kinds of animals. For a city kid, she was exceptionally comfortable in the woods and on the water. She would collect toads and salamanders and turtles and bugs. She especially loved seining with her father at Liberty State Park and Sandy Hook, where they’d net tiny fish and crabs. During college, she worked with sea turtles in Costa Rica, spent three months on a tiny island to save an endangered tern, and worked for the Department of Natural Resources in Nova Scotia studying human and coyote interaction. After graduating and much travel, she studied in Australia and New Zealand, earning a Master’s degree in Wildlife Conservation. Finally, she returned to her beloved Nova Scotia, where she loved the seascape, the landscape, and the kindest people. Emma had just come home for a surprise visit for Thanksgiving and to tell us she’d gotten engaged. She had her whole life in front of her, and it was looking grand. Looking at that Post-it note, I’d assumed that our daughter had been in an accident and was in the hospital. Even as I dialed the number, I was mentally making plans to fly there as soon as possible. It was an accident. A man driving a produce delivery truck on Highway 101, just 15 minutes from her home, hit her head-on. My only child, Emma Kate DiCara Tichenor, was not in the hospital; she was dead. She was 24, exactly one month shy of her 25th birthday. The coroner told me she died instantly, as though that would bring me comfort. I did fly right to Nova Scotia, where there was a gathering of friends and colleagues; many loved Emma like a sister, like a daughter. After bringing her ashes home, we had another memorial gathering, held in Liberty State Park, on the Hudson River—so important to her when she was growing up. At both events, friends, family, colleagues, and teachers spoke of her dedication to saving the planet, and the animals that share it with us.

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PHOTOS COURTESY OF BETH DICARA

PHOTO BY MAX RYAZANSKY

JOHN, BETH AND CHESTER Her science teachers at McNair Academic High School in Jersey City, where she graduated with honors in 2007, recalled her love of wildlife and mourned the loss of a young woman who was already on her way to becoming an accomplished scientist. It was with this in mind that her father and I established the Emma Tichenor Student Award at Acadia University to fund work on black bears and to help a student who shares Emma’s interests. This was the next project Emma was to pursue. It’s been two years since Emma died. The pain is as sharp as ever. You never stop grieving for your child. We wanted to do something to preserve her memory and continue the

work she was so passionate about. To donate to the scholarship fund, please send a check in any amount to: Acadia University U.S. Foundation c/o Cassie Tremain Office of Advancement 15 University Ave. Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 2R6, Canada Donors will receive a little porcelain black bear, handmade by me. I love making animals almost as much as Emma loved studying them and preserving their habitats. Thank you.

Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 •

Stephen BY KATE ROUNDS

ara Hrabosky lives in a typically friendly Jersey City building, where tenants say hello as they pass one another in the hallways. They may not be best friends, but there’s a sense of community and shared experience. The property is at the corner of John F. Kennedy Boulevard and Duncan Avenue; one of those neighbors was 24-year-old Stephen Andrew Clifford, who shared his apartment with roommates. At 10 p.m. on Friday, April 19, 2013, Clifford was crossing the Boulevard at Fairmont Avenue when he was struck by a pickup truck driven by off-duty Jersey City Police Officer Michael Spolizino, who was 36 at the time. Spolizino was driving over 60 miles per hour in a 25 mile-per-hour zone. He was charged with speeding, careless driving, no vehicle inspection sticker, and failure to wear a seatbelt. Spolizino was acquitted of all charges. Clifford, who had a degree in economics from Rutgers University and worked as a financial analyst in Manhattan, was walking home from a spaghetti dinner in preparation for running a half marathon. He attended St. Aedan’s Church in Jersey City and was planning to sponsor his sister’s Confirmation. Family members say Clifford had a “lifetime” relationship with a long-term girlfriend. Clifford was rushed to Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 10:35 p.m.

SPURRED TO ACT This tragic incident prompted Hrabosky and another tenant, Paul Bellan-Boyer, to do something. “It hit home,” says Hrabosky, who is a marketing and communications professional in the financial-services industry. “It could happen on our block. It could have been any one of us. Kennedy is especially dangerous. We deal all the time every day with people who drive like maniacs. It’s a very challenging area, with turns and hills, past St. Peter’s to the Square. There have been a lot of fatalities over the years.” “I love my city, and when people are killed and injured, it’s a major impact on the quality of life in the city,” added Bellan-Boyer. “There are human stories behind the numbers.” Hrabosky and Bellan-Boyer, who is director of animal control for Jersey City, started a nonprofit called Safe Streets JC, which has a very active Facebook page, facebook.com/safestreetsjerseycity.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CLIFFORD FAMILY “A world-class city needs world-class traffic and pedestrian safety,” a statement on the page reads. “Safe Streets JC advocates for ZERO traffic fatalities in Jersey City.” It’s a worthy goal. According to a post on the page, “In Hudson County, a county road rather than a state highway claimed the title of being the most deadly. County Route 501, also known as Kennedy Boulevard, had five fatal crashes in 2016, more than some of the bigger and busier toll roads and highways that crisscross the county.” Protesters who appear at the group’s rallies carry signs with such messages as “Drive Like Your Kids Live Here.”

THE THREE E’S Most folks don’t realize that city and county law enforcement share jurisdiction over Kennedy Boulevard. In the summer of 2013, Hudson County Freeholder Bill O’Dea and county engineers were very receptive to making the Boulevard safer. One goal of Safer Streets was to get funding to improve engineering on the roadway. It provided data from a

PHOTO BY MAX RYAZANSKY

KARA HRABOSKY AND PAUL BELLAN - BOYER road-safety audit to the county, so that it could apply for funding. Engineering enhancements take time; construction probably won’t start until later this year. “Meanwhile,” Hrabosky says, “the county implemented solutions that make sense.” These include changing the timing of the traffic lights, so there are fewer long stretches when drivers can speed, repaving, restripping, better markings at intersections, and bump-outs at curbs to shorten the crossing distance. “Overall, engineering and enforcement are the key,” Hrabosky says, “and enforcement is dragging.”

Up until recently, city resources were not earmarked for street safety. Other important issues like drugs, crime, and gun violence took precedence. “This is a problem that has been hiding in plain sight for a long time, for decades,” Hrabosky says. “It’s a cultural problem in Jersey City. We need stronger citywide enforcement. Bayonne has a reputation for strong enforcement. One minute into Bayonne, and basically you can’t go more than 27 miles an hour.” Fortunately, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop “is stepping up and leading on the issue,” Hrabosky says. “What got him engaged was the death of George Gonzalez.”

Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 •

On Friday, Oct. 14, 2016, about 8:30 a.m., George was struck by a jitney bus at Kennedy Boulevard and Neptune Avenue on his way to school. He was rushed to Jersey City Medical Center, where he died. He was 11. The driver, Raul Delatoree-Galaza, was charged with causing a death while driving on a suspended license. At press time, he had not yet come up for trial. The Gonzalez death was the third on Kennedy Boulevard in two and a half weeks. “It was back to back and awfully tragic, involving pedestrians and cyclists,” Hrabosky says. “Would enforcement have prevented them? There would certainly be a reduction with safer driving habits.”

ON SPEED It’s not just Kennedy Boulevard that has a problem with speeding drivers. “Grand Street is a raceway,” Hrabosky says. She also cites Marin, pointing to drivers who cut

through the city to get to the Holland Tunnel. With the Pulaski Skyway under construction and plans for a Jersey Avenue extension through Liberty State Park, she says things will only get worse. George Gonzalez’s death was a catalyst for change. There was a walk for street safety, and Mayor Fulop came out to speak to the crowd. A public meeting in December 2016 drew about 120 residents, along with the mayor, public safety director, county representatives, the Hudson County sheriff, engineers, and Jersey City police. The group asked the mayor to commit to a formal traffic safety unit citywide. There had never been one because the focus had been on drugs, gangs, and homicides. A four-officer unit already in place issued more than 1,200 tickets in six weeks, which emboldened the group to ask the mayor for more resources and radar-equipped police cars. It also wanted the unit to patrol citywide, focusing on trouble spots targeted by residents and supported by data. The group is aiming for Vision Zero, a Swedish initiative, implemented by New York City, which seeks zero traffic deaths within a prescribed period of time.

IT’S NO ACCIDENT Anyone who’s tried to effect change knows that language is important. Hrabosky says that “accident” is not the right word to use in talking about traffic safety. “Crash” or “collision” is preferable. “‘Accident’ implies that there is no responsibility,” she says. Translation: Cars don’t cause crashes; people do. Cars can’t be killed; people can.

THE INTERSECTION OF JFK BOULEVARD AND FAIRMONT AVENUE, WHERE THE CRASH OCCURRED. A RECENT PHOTO TAKEN BY AL SULLIVAN.

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WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS

BY TARA RYAZANKSY PHOTOS BY MAX RYAZANSKY

the waiting room, a little girl digs through a bucket of toys while her parents take an ESL class nearby. Despite coming from Eritrea so recently that she is still awaiting preschool placement, she is already picking up the language. She drops a stuffed animal and exclaims, “Oh my god!” sounding like a typical Jersey girl. The child is playing in the Journal Square office of Church World Service (CWS), a refugee resettlement program that helps displaced people from around the world find new homes and rebuild their lives. It’s an international organization founded in 1946 as a partnership of churches. Today the humanitarian group has 33 offices across the United States that welcome refugees. Its New Jersey office is in Jersey City. Full disclosure: my husband, Maxim Ryazansky, came to the United States as a refugee in 1989 through a government program that helped Eastern European Jews emigrate during the collapse of the Soviet Union. When immigration reform became a hot topic during the 2016 presidential election, Max sought a way to get involved and give back. After reading about CWS, he decided to reach out and volunteer. “When we came here we got a lot of help from government programs,” he recalls, “but without private groups and citizens, there was no way that my family would have been established as quickly. I feel like it’s the American thing to do to help people when they are in need.”

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But that wasn’t the sentiment when President Donald Trump signed an executive order, soon after his Inauguration, denying the entry of refugees to the United States from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen for 120 days. The order prompted lawsuits, protests, and involvement from human rights groups. It also created an air of uncertainty for CWS and its clients, including Mohammed Hameed, who arrived with his family from Iraq just before the presidential order.

FEARING FOR THEIR LIVES Hameed served the U.S. Army as an interpreter for 10 years, which put his safety at risk. “Due to the nature of the type of job that I did, I got threatened by terrorists,” he says. “The militiamen, they tried to follow and track down all of the interpreters. We were called ‘eyes for the Americans.’” He soon realized he was being targeted. “They kidnapped my brother,” he says. “They thought that he was me. It was terrible. After torturing him for a couple of days, they let him go when they realized that he was not me.” After that, he feared for his life. “I could not even leave my house,” he says. That’s when he reached out to CWS. “They give good help to the refugees who are here to start their lives in the United States for the first time,” he says. “Not only the organization, but the volunteers are such great people. They are making me really feel that I am at home. I don’t know how to thank them. I can’t even find the words.”

Staff and CWS volunteers reach out to refugees. But words are one thing that Hameed has on his side. CWS selected him to attend a conference with New York Democratic Senator Charles Schumer because of his excellent English skills. Hameed was also a great example of the point that Schumer was making—that many people are at risk of death because of the immigration ban. “This executive order is mean-spirited and un-American, and it was implemented in an incompetent way that has caused chaos and confusion across the country. It will only serve to embolden and inspire those around the globe who would do us harm,” Schumer said at the conference, where he shed a few tears that evoked a tweet-freak from President Trump. For Hameed, it was a wonderful experience. “It was something that I will never forget,” he says. “I am really, really thankful for what the senator did to stand up for the refugees and the immigrants. He stood by their case. I felt really proud to help at that conference.”

THEIR OWN TWO FEET The Journal Square office, which opened in 2015, is small and busy. Since opening, it has served about 200 people. The waiting room is decorated with drawings made by children who have come through the program. Nearby are boxes of gently worn clothes that are yet to be sorted. CWS hopes to secure a donated storage space for items like these. The outpouring has been so great that the office can’t make space for the boxes. On the day I visited, volunteer-run ESL classes are being held at one end of the office while a job developer is counseling newly settled refugees on the other.

“The goal of the program is self sufficiency,” says Megan Johnson, director of the Jersey City office. “We want to have people standing on their own two feet and supporting their families.” The program lasts 30 to 90 days and allots $925 per person. CWS sets the families up with housing, helps them find employment, and provides cultural orientation. The program also helps refugees meet goals like getting social security cards and enrolling in school. Johnson says her clients are about 50 percent Syrian, but they serve people from all over the world. She tries to list them all: “Ethiopia, Central America, Colombia, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, the Middle East, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and China. We’ve had a lot of diversity because Jersey City is really diverse.” Locals pull their weight. “We couldn’t do this without volunteers,” Johnson says. “People in Jersey City have been overall very receptive to helping refugees. Our services are about the bare necessities, and people need more than that of course, so we’re relying on other organizations to help us.” CWS works with a network of churches within 50 miles that sponsor refugee families. This often includes housing that lasts longer than the 90-day deadline. It also receives help from the Islamic Society and various church and social groups.

WORDS AND WORK One of the biggest struggles that CWS clients face is finding employment when they have limited language skills, though some are fluent upon arrival. Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 •

New York Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer met with refugees. “It’s the English and the jobs,” says case manager and ESL developer Rebecca Liberato. “One plays off of the other. If we get someone coming in where they speak absolutely no English whatsoever, even unloading boxes at midnight is hard.” Johnson adds that securing housing for refugees prior to their arrival is another hurdle. “We are asking landlords to rent to folks before they arrive in the country, and they don’t have a job or a credit history in the United States.” It can be a tough sell, but she says that all their refugees have been great tenants. “Some of our refugees who we resettled last year help us with translation and welcoming new families.”

HITTING HOME During the week I visited, Liberato looked for temporary housing for a refugee family in an Airbnb rental when their apartment fell through. Next on the agenda, she secured more permanent housing for the family.

“A lot of people look at it as, ‘oh you’re doing such good work,’ but some days you feel defeated,” Liberato says. “We can have days that we feel like we want to give up, but we get a lot of positive feedback from the clients and from the volunteers.” She will also work on readying an apartment for a new family. This includes making repairs, cleaning, sourcing furniture and home items, and managing volunteers who help CWS turn the space into a home. “You have to be very creative and as we put it, kind of scrappy,” Liberato says. After that she will drive her own car to pick up the arriving family and bring them to Jersey City. Why is she involved? “I started because of how badly the Syrian refugee crisis affected the children, and other refugee crises as well,” says Liberato. “I have a son. It hit home. We are so proud of those who are thriving. We feel a sense of accomplishment with them.” Johnson, who has a Masters of Public Health in Humanitarian Crises from Columbia University, was inspired to get into her field when she was young. “My feeling has

always been that I am very lucky to have been born in the situation that I was born in,” she says, “and I always wanted to help people who got something else thrown at them that to me is unimaginable.”

UNCERTAIN FUTURE Thanks to CWS, Hameed and his family have been adjusting well during the short time that they have been here in the United States. They are settling into their new apartment in Hudson County; Hameed is looking for a job, where he can use his language skills. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie withdrew the state from participation in the U.S. Refugee Resettlement Program, so CWS works under contract with the federal government. In the final presidential debate, candidate Trump referred to Syrian refugees as a threat to U.S. security, calling them “Trojan horses.” Now that he is president, he could bring changes to CWS. “Everyone is thinking about it, but we don’t know; we’re waiting and seeing,” says Johnson, who expected to settle 170 refugees this year. No one should feel nervous about welcoming them into the community if they come. “All of our folks go through very intensive background checks from the U.S. government, from the State Department,” she says. “They have security screenings, medical screenings, they’ve been vetted and interviewed for a very long time.” CWS did not close its doors during the ban, but its future remains uncertain. For refuges like Hameed, it was a life saver. He says, “A lot of people the first time leaving their homeland can have an emotional moment, but it has been really great.”—JCM

TO LEARN MORE VISIT: cwsglobal.org.

TO DONATE VISIT

ww.gofundme.com/NJrefugees

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201-798-8666 Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 •

THE

JEWEL IN THE TOWN

Jewelry maker finds inspiration in Jersey City

ALLISON CANNARSA

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he old saw that “if you work at what you love, you never work a day in your life” seems made for Allison Cannarsa. Like a lot of folks, the 32-year-old found her way to Jersey City by way of Brooklyn and has discovered that JC is a friendly place for her art. She lives in the Heights and makes jewelry in a studio in her apartment, which she sells under the name ARCOS. “By working from home I have the ability to work whenever I can and feel like it,” she says. Her journey to jewelry artist started in Long Island, where she grew up. She went on to Vassar College, where she studied art history. “I did an internship with a jewelry artist there, where I got the first little seed of an idea,” she says. A couple of years later, she took a jewelry class and “fell totally in love with it.” That took her to the legendary Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City for a two-year program in jewelry-making.

At that point she was living and working in Brooklyn. “It was impossible to survive there,” she recalls. “I wasn’t happy with the community and felt isolated.” Then a friend introduced her to Jersey City. “When I saw the quality of living in Jersey City, I was amazed,” she says. “I’ve been living here for three years now and, as an artist, I love it so much better than Brooklyn.”

WHAT STARVING ARTIST? “I’m not under the stress of making my rent here,” she says. “I own my own business as an artisan, and it takes years to build up products and clientele. Meantime, I found a great place here where I can afford to live and not be struggling.” Equally important is the Jersey City art scene. “I found a great spirit here,” she says. “There’s just so much enthusiasm. People are much more supportive of what I do, which I didn’t see in Brooklyn. In contrast, Jersey City is alive and well. Everyone is making something. They’re enthusiastic and passionate and real.” She already feels part of the community, participating in JC Fridays and outdoor markets such as Hudson Flea and Sixth Borough. “It’s a great way to meet fellow makers,” she says. “We’re in it together. I’ve made fast friends that way.” She’s also discovered the way Jersey City crosspollinates when it comes to the arts. “I love music,” she says, “and when I see live music, a lot of artists are there as well.” She also loves taking in movies at the Loew’s and takes full advantage of JC eateries, including Beechwood and Marco & Pepe for brunch. “Ozu Foods in the Heights feeds me at least once a week when I’m too busy to cook,” she says. Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 •

THE ARCOS AESTHETIC “My work is very direct,” Allison says. “Just me and the piece, and I make it by hand as much as possible, so it’s really like a personal project. I’m trying to develop my own aesthetic and learn a personal language that feels my own.” Her influences are eclectic. “I’m inspired by ancient cultures,” she says. “I love ancient symbology and carvings from all over the world.” She also loves modernist artwork and modernist jewelry. She cites Scandinavian work. “Bold, abstract symbols feel heavy with meaning even if you can’t tell what they are trying to say,” she says. “What I’d like to keep developing is work that feels big and bold and has a presence and communicates something, even though it’s jewelry. “When I studied art history, I wanted to create, but I was still shy and unsure about it,” she says. “I do really enjoy sculpture, and very experimental jewelry is borderline sculpture. I love the small detail work.”

SEEDS SOWN AT HOME “My dad used to do stained glass lamps and window work as a hobby,” she relates. “I was just in love with it. He had a studio in the basement. I’d play around myself with mosaics; it always felt natural.” Her father currently sells Mercedes. “He was so artistic and talented, but never got a chance to do it commercially,” she says. For Allison, jewelry-making is a full-time job. In our Fall/Winter issue, Tara Ryazansky wrote about the Jane Do fitness studio. The former Rockettes who founded the studio

26 • Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017

commissioned Allison to create signet rings to reward employees. She also sells her work at Kanibal & Co. “Jersey City has changed in the short time I’ve been here,” Allison says. “The community is already so strong, and I feel like I’m participating in it.”—Kate Rounds

Jersey City Education Association Ensuring a stronger voice for educators and pushing for higher academic standards. The Jersey City Education Association is at the forefront of positive change. We make a difference for teachers, for students, and for education. The JCEA proudly represents nearly 4000 educational professionals in the Jersey City Public School District and their pedagogical interests.

-We believe that students can reach their full potential when education professionals are valued. -We believe that a collaborative effort makes our schools most effective. -We believe it is our responsibility to advocate for the conditions that will best educate students.

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Images courtesy of The Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. /FXFowle

A M ighty Woman With a Torch New Statue of Liberty Museum to debut in 2019

any of you are lucky enough to live within eyeshot of the Statue of Liberty. That’s an incredible thing when you consider that tourists travel from across the globe to see this monumental tribute to freedom. Ask the locals if they think there’s a museum on Liberty Island, and the answer will be yes. And there is, but it’s inside the monument and available to only a small fraction of the Statue’s 4.3 million annual visitors. The reason for the curtailed capacity speaks volumes about the world we live in, and the need for emblems and artifacts that honor the tenets of freedom: After the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, new security measures limited access to the interior of the Statue. The new $70 million, 26,000-square-foot museum is part of a beautification plan that includes landscaping and lighting. Engineer Gustave Eiffel, responsible for another of the world’s most iconic structures, crafted the hand-forged iron bars that supported the Statue for 100 years. They were removed and preserved during the 1986 centennial restora-

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tion. These bars will be sculpted into a “Liberty Stars” mural that will grace the entrance to the museum. The highlight of the new museum will be Lady Liberty’s original torch, which will be on view in the “Inspiration Gallery.” It was removed and preserved in 1984 because it was beyond repair. “It’s an amazing piece of art, and the story is so interesting,” says Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation President and CEO Stephen Briganti. “The original did not have windows. They were carved into it in the 1900s, and not very well. Water leaked in, and they began to deteriorate.”

Modern Museum The contemporary structure will feature a green roof-scape and bird-safe glass exteriors. The interior and exterior spaces will be built with materials native to Liberty Island, and those used to build the Statue, including Stony Creek granite, bronze, plaster, and a variety of native plants. The museum will be above 500-year flood levels and built to withstand hurricane-force winds.

The goal of the museum’s design “was to engage with the park’s formal, axial plan and respond to its spectacular setting,” said Nicholas Garrison, partner and project designer with the FXFOWLE architectural firm. “The island’s landscape is lifted and merged with the architecture to create space for the museum in a new geology. The building’s angular forms and spaces are shaped by its views and the

“

I lift my lamp beside the golden door.” — Emma Lazarus

irregularity of the water’s edge, celebrating liberty.” “The point we’re trying to keep in mind,” says Briganti, “is that the museum isn’t the feature; the Statue is the feature. We’re not trying to outdo the Statue. The design of the museum is really, really nice, but it has to be kept relative with respect to the Statue.” It would be hard to overshadow the Statue, given its size and significance. “It’s become an American symbol of what liberty means to people around the world,” Briganti says. “The concept of liberty keeps changing and expanding. You come to a point where you realize that the way we see liberty may not be the way everybody else does.” Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 •

Much to Muse Over The museum will offer three galleries. The Immersive Theater Gallery is a multi-media event, featuring a virtual experience of ascending the Statue and recreating the views and sounds inside. In the Engagement Gallery, visitors can explore the warehouse where Frederic Auguste Bartholdi built the Statue. The interactive presentation shows the process, from small plaster model to the pounding of copper sheets on massive negative molds to create the Statue’s final form. In the Inspiration Gallery visitors may document their experience by adding their names and photos to a Liberty Mosaic. And of course, the original torch is the crowning glory of the entire museum. A glass wall in this gallery offers views of the Statue and the New York City skyline. Exhibitions, created by ESI Design, will cover the Statue’s history, design, construction, and restoration. A virtual flythrough offers an overview of Lady Liberty’s history and her

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global impact. ESI’s president is Edwin Schlossberg, who is married to Caroline Kennedy. Another luminary involved in the project is legendary fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, chair of the fundraising campaign. “She’s the godmother of the Statue of Liberty,” says Briganti. “She’s helping to raise the money, all from private sources.” A Belgian native, the immigrant experience has special resonance for her. Access to the museum will be free with purchase of a ferry ticket to Liberty and Ellis Islands. Liberty Island will remain open throughout construction. VisitStatueCruises.com “This will be a great museum for people interested in the history of the Statue and the concept of liberty,” Briganti says, adding, “Each time I see the Statue I get a thrill.” —Kate Rounds

For more information about the Statue of Liberty Museum, visit libertyellisfoundation.org/statueoflibertymuesuem

D A T E S

leadership skills. Participation is optional, but it’s always encouraged. Guests are always welcome to walk in and have a firsthand experience of our club.

Want your event listed? Please email us at jcmag@hudson reporter.com and put “calendar listings” in the subject line.

ONGOING The Historic Downtown Farmers’ Market at the Grove PATH Plaza, 4-8 p.m. every Monday and Thursday from May to December. Featuring over 25 vendors serving up tasty treats from fresh fruits and vegetables to freshly baked empanadas to homemade mozzarella.

Hamilton Park Farmers’ Market, 4-8 p.m. every Wednesday from May to October. Provides residents with fresh fruit and produce, fresh baked goods, frozen meals, pre-cooked meals and much more. Riverview Farmers’ Market, Riverview-Fisk Park, 10 a.m. -3 p.m. every Sunday from May to October.

The New Journal Square Green Market, The Boulevard at Journal Square PATH, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. every Wednesday and Friday. RJO All-Stars Jam Session, Brightside Tavern, 141 Bright St., 7:30 p.m. every first Monday of the month, riverviewjazz.org. If you can play, then come and play.

Karaoke at the Brightside Tavern, 141 Bright St., 9 p.m.-12 a.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday, brightsidetavern.com. Every week, the Brightside turns the mic over to you. New Heights Toastmasters Club, 855 Bergen Ave., 6:30 p.m. every second and fourth Tuesday of every month, (201) 424-9090. We provide a safe and supportive environment where you can develop your public speaking and

Groove on Grove at the Grove PATH Plaza, every Wednesday, 6-9 p.m., May through September. This free weekly music series will feature a wide variety of musicians, performers, local businesses and sponsors. This familyfriendly event brings our community together to celebrate Jersey City and its diversity. FlorYoga in the Park, Van Vorst Park, (866) 333-YOGA, every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Classes see page 35

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OPENING THE

Golden Door

BY TARA RYAZANSKY

THE CELLULOID SAGA OF BILL AND MICHELE SORVINO

ill Sorvino is an actor with 20 film credits to his name. He has also played the role of director, writer, and producer on various movie projects. In 2010 he founded the Golden Door Film Festival to celebrate indie films in his hometown of Jersey City. The fourday event, which Sorvino runs with his wife, Michele Sorvino, holds its opening and closing nights at the historic Landmark Loew’s Jersey Theatre. They also screen films at various local venues. The festival name was inspired by the last line of the Emma Lazarus poem, “The New Colossus,” which is engraved on a tablet on the pedestal of The Statue of Liberty. “Jersey City is America’s Golden Door,” Bill says. “It’s meaningful to me because my grandparents came from Italy. They are the reason I grew up in Jersey City. My grandfather landed in Jersey City and stayed here his whole life. I pictured him on the boat seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time.” Bill says that he wanted his festival to evoke the feeling that his grandfather experienced when arriving in America, like they are entering a new world of equal opportunity. “I always wanted it to be an open-door platform for filmmakers to feel like they’re part of the big show whether their budget was nothing or millions,” he says. “When we bring in celebrities we don’t do a VIP spot,” Michele says. That’s one way that Golden Door treats everyone as equals. It also gives filmmakers the opportunity to network with famous people. “If you have the nerve to go up to them and say hello, then you can go up to them and say hello,” she says. Bill says that most film festivals don’t have the same fair principles, with the star treatment reserved only for celebrities. Golden Door aims to

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BILL AND MICHELE SORVINO

roll out the red carpet for everyone. “I didn’t like feeling lesser because I was with a short film,” Bill says. “Maybe if I had said, ‘Hey, I’m Bill Sorvino,’ then that wouldn’t be the case, but I don’t do that.”

ALL IN THE FAMILY Bill is the nephew of actor Paul Sorvino, who is known for his roles in Goodfellas and the television show Law & Order. His cousins include Academy Award Winner Mira Sorvino, and actors Amanda and Michael Sorvino. Growing up, his family alternated between Paul Sorvino’s house in Tenafly and Bill Sorvino’s family home in Jersey City for Sunday dinners. “Even way back then he would take over a room and start singing and telling jokes,” Bill recalls of his uncle. He was also close to his cousins. “Me and Mira and the rest of the kids would be running around playing, and we would put on little shows.” “Fun fact: Billy and Mira got married when they were little kids,” Michele says, clarifying that they played bride and groom in one of those childhood plays. “Mira actually told that story when we went to her wedding back in 2004. She told everybody that it wasn’t actually her first wedding!” The story got the whole crowd laughing. Even though he was born into a family with generations of acting talent, Bill didn’t branch out into film until the birth of his daughter 10 years ago. She inspired him to tell the type of stories that he wanted her to see. “I try and take projects that would in some way, shape, or form have a positive impact,” he says. “The medium of film touches everyone. It’s universal. You can affect people’s lives. When a movie is meaningful, it can really change the world. It shows that either you aren’t alone in the way you see things, or it can introduce you to a new way of seeing things.”

was on the board of Morristown Memorial Hospital and fundraising for its Autism Center. “I started to feel like I was in two separate worlds, one trying to make awareness for autism and another working with the film festival,” says Michele, who is executive director of Golden Door. The film helped her make the connection between both roles. “We could impact the world if we use the festival for autism awareness,” she says. “That’s how we came up with the philanthropic arm of the festival.” They started working with a sponsor, Autism Speaks, which is dedicated to

autism awareness. The fest grew to include an autism awareness seminar and movies about autism and by autistic filmmakers. "I was inspired by the feeling to make a change when my son was diagnosed with PPD,” Michele says. PPD is Pervasive Developmental Disorder, a” sub-threshold” of autism or a high-functioning person whose symptoms overlap with Asperger’s Syndrome. “It was then I realized I needed to become an ever-stronger mom and advocate for him. I read all the material, every law and right that came my way, and before I knew it I was an advocate."

“I’m blown away by the response and quality of the films we receive,” says Michele Sorvino.

ART IMITATES LIFE One movie that Michele was deeply moved by is Six Letter Word by writer/director Lisanne Sartor. It features Rumer Willis as a young mother caring for her special-needs son. Michele watched the film while she Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 •

PEOPLE POWER JCM The films speak for themselves. "I am typically blown away by the response and quality of films we receive, especially in the raisingawareness category,” Michele says. “The filmmakers are so creative in the storytelling. It's so unique, and I love watching those films. Last year we had an amazing film by John Asher called “PO.” It was a complete tearjerker. Everyone in the theater was crying. John came from California to Jersey City to screen this film. He was previously married to Jenny McCarthy, and they had an autistic son together. It was amazing to watch this film!" According to its website, Golden Door is the first and only film festival that has a segment dedicated to creating autism awareness.

GOLDEN DOOR A HIT The Sorvinos are proud that each year the festival has grown. This year they received almost double the submissions that they got last year. Of these, only some will make it into the festival. The ones that do will be up for competitive awards such as the Women in Cinema-Alice Guy Blache Award. Bill says that one thing that makes the festival thrive is the working relationship he has with his wife. “Michele is great at organizing,” he says. “The four days of that festival this girl doesn’t eat, doesn’t sleep, I don’t know how she does it.” Michele says that Bill’s strength is his movie experience. “Billy is an actor,” she says. “He’s in the industry. His family has been in the industry for so long. There are industry standards that if you didn’t grow up in it, you don’t know.” She enjoys the planning aspect of Golden Door. “We’re really known to throw a great party every night,” she says. Bill says that another part of their success is a shift in the Jersey City arts scene, a change they’ve benefitted from, but also one they helped to create: “The arts have become part of the mainstream in Jersey City.”—JCM

Learn more at goldendoorfilm festival.org MICHELE WITH KIDS SOFIA AND LUCA

Photos courtesy of Bill Sorvino

DATES JCM from page 31

through Labor Day weekend. Please bring a yoga mat, small towel, some water, and a friend. $10 suggested donation. All donations go to Friends of Van Vorst Park Association. Geeks Who Drink Quiz Night at Pint, 34 Wayne St., every Wednesday, 8-10 p.m., geekswhodrink.com. Geeks Who Drink is a pub quiz with eight rounds of eight questions each, including a music round, an audio round, and a picture round. Free to play, with prizes for the top two teams and bonus prizes throughout the game. Free Zumba Class, The Ethical Community Charter School Gym, 95 Broadway, every Wednesday, 7-8 p.m. Join the Partnership for a Healthier JC for Zumba. Please bring water, a towel, and 1-3 lb. weights. Jersey City Slam’s Open Mic and Poetry Slam, Tea NJ, 262 Newark Ave., 6-9 p.m. every second and fourth Thursday of the month, jerseycityslam.com.

Jersey City Slam invites you all to check out our poetry slam. This slam is an Open Slam, meaning anyone can compete. There is an open mic beforehand open to music, stand-up comedy, poetry, and bar tricks. Liberty Science Center After Dark, Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd., 6-10 p.m. every third Thursday of the month, lsc.org, (201) 253-1310. Bring your friends to an after-hours adventure at Liberty Science Center. Guests 21 and over can enjoy cocktails, food, music, dancing, laser shows, and more. Sound and Vision at Transmission, 150 Bay St., 10 p.m.-3 a.m. every Friday. Dance all night as DJ Ceremony and guest DJs provide an allnight soundtrack of the best in Classic ’90s Britpop, New Wave, Indie, ’80s Alternative, Synthpop, Punk, Manchester, and more. Only $5 all night with free admission before 11 p.m. Indiegrove Free Coworking Fridays, 121 Newark Ave., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. every Friday, (201)

589-2068, indiegrovejc.com. Come experience coworking and see why it has become the most popular way for entrepreneurs and independent professionals to work. Midnight Market, Harborside Atrium, 147 Harborside Financial Center Platform, 7:30 p.m.-12 a.m. every second Friday of the month, midnightmarketjc.com. Join us at Jersey City’s first indoor night market and foodie nightlife event. All food is $5 or less, as well as drinks and the entrance fee. This 21-and-older event is cash only. Visit our website to pre-purchase tickets and skip the line. Hudson County Animal League’s Downtown JC Adoptions, Fussy Friends, 148 Newark Ave., 12-4 p.m. every Saturday. HCAL’s adoption team will be available to introduce you to our fabulous adoptable felines. Bring some joy into your heart and give a deserving cat a fresh start in life. Pacific Flea Antique and Artist Market, 149 Pacific Ave.,

11 a.m.-6 p.m. every second Saturday, April-October. Features fine craft, antique and vintage items, live music, curated art shows, outdoor street art, and rotating food trucks. Marketplace JC, Christopher Columbus Drive and Hudson Street, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. every third Saturday of the month. Join us for a fabulous, familyfriendly outdoor market in historic downtown Jersey City. We bring together amazing makers and collectors, chefs, and entertainers to create a gathering where you can taste, discover, enjoy, and—most importantly—spend time with friends, family, and neighbors.

MARCH 18 Family Weekend Labs: Everyday Engineering, Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd., 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., lsc.org, (201) 253-1310. Can you build a bridge capable of holding weight? Have you ever built a kite sturdy enough to fly? Come

to Liberty Science Center and learn how to design, test, and redesign the structures you build, just like a real engineer. Each Family Weekend Lab is $40 per person; $25 for LSC members. Buy tickets at the Box Office or contact us to make reservations.

24 Jersey City Whiskey Fest, Harborside Atrium, Christopher Columbus Drive, 7-10 p.m., jcwhiskeyfest.com. Featuring over 100 styles of whiskey and spirits, this is your chance to taste from a selection of single malt and blended Scotch, Irish, bourbon, rye, Tennessee, Japanese, Canadian, and craft distilled whiskies. Other spirits will be available as well.

31 The Nields: Acoustic Folk, Grace Church Van Vorst, 39 Erie St., 7:30-9:30 p.m., cathedralartslive.org. Well into their third decade as musical partners and at the very top of their game, the Nields turn to meditations on time, and see page 44

Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 •

(Left to right) Martin Gamarello, Laura Skolar, Mory Thomas, and Nick Caballero. Photo by Armando Rafael Photography

OFF THE SQUARE E

ver wonder how an area famous for tin cans becomes one of the hippest parts of town? Actually, the answer embodies Jersey City’s decades-long evolution from making stuff to maker spaces. We’re talking about what some wags are calling NoJo, North of Journal Square. The former American Can Company building is now Canco Lofts. And down the street is the massive Mana Contemporary arts destination. NoJo also encompasses India Square, long the hub for authentic Indian restaurants, food emporiums, apparel, and shops with imported Indian merchandise. Into this lively mix comes Square 1 Community Eatery on St. Paul’s Avenue. Four partners brought their unique talents to bear in creating this neighborhood gem: Marty Gamarello of Gamarello Plumbing and Heating; Mory Thomas, a chef formerly with the Food Network; Nick Caballero, owner of Ideas for Living, which specializes in residential interior design and construction; and Laura Skolar, owner of Century 21 Plaza Realty. Skolar has owned the building that houses the eatery since 2008. “The storefront had been boarded up since the ’70s,” she says. “It used to be a luncheonette.”

36 • Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017

Her fiancée, Marty Gamarello, wanted to have a food establishment there. “It was a difficult business, so we put off doing anything,” she says. “But when Marty designed the storefront, it looked pretty fabulous. It perked my interest. It’s such a great neighborhood.” As it turned out, Mory Thomas was a good friend. After 14 years with the Food Network, he was ready to get back to Square 1, so to speak. Cabellero, meanwhile, “saw the place and was blown away by its raw space and hardwood floors,” Skolar says. “We wanted to bring something to that neighborhood that it needed, a place where people can go hang out, relax, and enjoy themselves.”

SQUARE ROOTS Naming the new establishment was a fun challenge. “We had a list of about 85 names,” Skolar says. “The minute we heard it, we felt that it was right. Mory was going back to square one, back to his roots in the restaurant business. The four of us were the four sides of a square. We were starting a new venture, all at square one.” There were other considerations.

“We didn’t want to call it a restaurant,” Skolar says. “‘Community eatery’ really stuck, a place for the community to congregate, to feel like our place is their place.” The eatery opened in early November, serving breakfast and lunch. “We called it a soft opening,” Skolar says, “because we really wanted to get the feel from the community, their likes and dislikes. We wanted to tweak the menu to get a really good feel for what people like. The response was positive.” What they were offering was what the hood wanted: “Great food and impeccable service,” Skolar says. “I’d always perceived it as a stable neighborhood,” she says, donning her real-estate hat. “People in the neighborhood were longtime residents. In my building some of the people had been there 30 years. Little India is right around the corner. You have Asian and Indian families, young professionals, and we’re fortunate to have Canco and Mana Contemporary.”

SQUARE FOOD The menu includes hip takes on familiar items: sweet and savory yogurt; gluten-free corn pancakes; nondairy steel-cut oats with

chia seeds and dried cranberries; sandwiches with ingredients like kale almond pesto, ricotta horseradish, pequillo pepper, and chorizo manchego; salads with roasted Asian broccoli and freekeh. The eatery serves a full complement of baked goods, along with locally-roasted Kobrick Coffee, with brands like Kiss of Africa. “We’re finding more activity later in the morning for lunch,” Skolar says, “and moms coming in for breakfast meetings.” They also cater community parties with appetizers and desserts. On the horizon, the partners want to experiment with limited dinner service. “A popup once or twice a month,” Skolar says. “Or people coming home from work grabbing a quick bite or grab-and-go.” Liquor licenses are expensive, so it would be BYOB for folks ordering dinner. But, she says, “If we venture into those areas, we don’t want to take our eye off the ball.” Meanwhile, this perfectly matched foursome is enjoying the journey. “It was a collaborative effort,” Skolar says, “Marty’s vision, Nick’s design, and Mory’s food.” —Kate Rounds

Square 1 Community Eatery 283 St. Paul’s Ave., corner of Liberty | (201) 386-8500 | square1jc.com 7 a.m.-3 p.m.: Tuesday-Friday | 8 a.m.-4 p.m.: Weekends Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 •

The World According to

Zink

A new novel re-imagines Jersey City as a space for anarchist squatters BY ADRIANA RAMBAY FERNÁNDEZ

early every morning over the past year I’ve woken to sounds of hammering, drilling, or trucks rumbling down small side streets as they haul cargo for nearby construction sites. The sounds are signs of a changing Jersey City, as old historic buildings are gutted and renovated, like the one next to me, while luxury condos rise on once vacant lots. Sometimes I’ll come across an empty or abandoned building with boarded windows and a padlocked door, nestled between old and new construction. Each vacant home has a story to tell, especially against the backdrop of the city’s transformation. When I saw that Nell Zink’s latest novel, Nicotine, featured an anarchist community squatting in present-day Jersey City, I was curious to see how the city was portrayed and what aspects, if any, jibed with reality.

Haves and Have-Nots

Photo of Nell Zink by Fred Filkhorn Zink set her novel in Jersey City because she wanted to address income disparity. Williamsburg and Greenpoint. “Jersey City was just like “Polarization is such a big theme in American culture those places on old maps that they would’ve left blank right now,” she says. “The income polarization that you and written ‘Here be Monsters.’ You really felt get in New York City is really radical, and everybody adventurous going anywhere beyond right downtown.” knows it.” Despite her sense of being in a no-man’s land, she I caught up with Zink via Skype while she was at a recalls an intimate, small-town feel, where everyone writers’ residency in Israel. Zink, 53, grew up in rural helped each other out. Virginia but has lived in Germany since 2000. During Her life experience has been multifaceted—she played her twenties she spent a few years in Hoboken and the guitar in a band; earned a PhD in Media Studies; had gigs Paulus Hook section of Jersey City. At the time, she as a bricklayer, technical writer, and translator; and once worked as a secretary for Colgate-Palmolive. launched an indie rock fan zine called “Animal Review,” “We were like pioneers for being in Paulus Hook,” Zink where she published short stories. says. Most of the people she knew in the early ’90s who Zink rose to popularity after the publication of her also worked in Manhattan were moving to places like novel The Wallcreeper, in 2014, followed by Mislaid in

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2015, which was long-listed for the National Book Award. With Nicotine, Zink says she chose to go in a different direction from Mislaid, which focuses on issues of race. “I decided to go more with a race neutral milieu and even kind of a race neutral generation, where people are trying to move past that,” she says. “These younger people have a very different approach to those kinds of questions of identity.”

Got a Light? Nicotine is the name of a house in an unnamed activist neighborhood in Jersey City occupied by those young people Zink was talking about—friendly, middleclass anarchists who represent a number of different causes but are bound together by their love for nicotine in all its forms. The self-sustaining community also has a feminist house called Stayfree. There is the DJD house that is dedicated to alternative energy sources, whose name could stand for its fictitious address on Don Juan Drive but also refers Photo courtesy to the Donald Judd Daybed, an enormous sofa on the ground floor where the residents sleep together. Finally, there is Tranquility, the indigenous peoples’ rights house. Recent college graduate Penny Baker, who has smoked at least since age 12, shows up at Nicotine to claim ownership after the death of her father, Norm Baker, with the intention of kicking out the squatters and fixing up the place while she looks for a job. Penny’s thrown off course when she falls for one of the squatters, a tobacco-chewing, self-identified asexual man named Rob. She moves into the Tranquility house and attempts to keep her self-interested older half-brother, Matt, and mother, Amalia, at bay while she melds in with the activists.

Urban Dystopia We first learn about the Nicotine house during a conversation that takes place in Morristown at the mansion of Penny’s mother, Amalia, following Norm’s funeral. Amalia was rescued from a trash heap in Cartagena, Colombia when she was 13 by Norm, a Jewish man and a Shaman with a cult-like following. Amalia, who hasn’t seen the Jersey City house, describes it as a “falling-down house in a big slum … where Norm’s parents die in a fire because his father is smoking in bed.” The narrator later describes Penny’s arrival at the Grove Street PATH station

of ECCO

and a long walk she takes to get to the house. The narrator proceeds with a dismal and stark portrait:

The neighborhood soon becomes alarmingly ugly. Clapboard row houses wear crooked aluminum siding in mildewed pastel shades. Concrete front stoops are faced on the sides with orange-hued fake brickwork. Flimsy aluminum railings imitate wrought iron. Blocks of cheap postwar construction alternate with blocks of prefab that could have been put up yesterday. As I read the description, I tried to locate the neighborhood but had to quickly let go of any hope for specificity, realizing that the conversations that follow among the squatters are wry and offbeat, the style satrical. Zink says she never meant to provide a detailed reconstruction of Jersey City, especially given her writing style, which relies heavily on dialog. “I deliberately made it vague,” Zink says. “It is sort of off in some kind of no-man’s land where you strike off north from the PATH line.” Zink says the absence of geographic detail was an attempt to make the novel more like TV. In the narrative, Jersey City is like a location on a Hollywood set that stands in for a generic urban setting. Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 •

Wild West

“As a novelist I was working in a way where I didn’t have to say, ‘Here is the block, here is the street, here is the kind of mailbox they had,’” Zink says. “In this book I wasn’t concerned with that at all. I was trying to do a fastmoving story with a lot of dialog.” The dialog can be disorienting as it jumps from topic to topic, where no person or subject is off limits. There is little space for the reader to catch her breath as conflicts arise, events unfold, and relationships grow ever more complicated. The reader is along for the bumpy ride, as the characters who are insightful, yet full of contradictions, attempt to make sense of their place in the world, especially as it pertains to the value of activism. A woman named Sorry, who represents older feminists, expounds: “But our ambitions are trivial as all get-out. … Live one day at a time, and try to afford cigarettes by living in New Jersey.”

Attempting to find a new squatter community, the cohort takes a road trip out West, setting their sights on Oakland. The narrator offers this bit of logic: “None of them knows anything about Oakland, except that it is near rich places (San Francisco, Palo Alto), yet itself poor as Jersey City. They hope for Jersey City-like conditions.” Zink explains, “These characters are set in their ways. They run away for a reason because to start over they need a new perspective.” She says her characterization was consistent with what she has observed in similar squatter communities that are linked by a network. “They only pay attention to what goes on at these other CHA houses,” she says. “It is partly a function of who they are.” (In the novel, CHA refers to the Community Housing Action, an umbrella organization for housing co-ops located throughout North Jersey.) While the characters in Nicotine may have a skewed sense of the city they inhabit, Zink does drill down into the geography of the squatter house and the community itself. She invents a world that offers a mosaic of characters, who aren’t afraid to say what they think. She isn’t afraid of shocking or jolting the reader with sardonic wit and humor. Penny sums up Zink’s approach to the writing: “It’s not my job to tell the story in a way that makes me look good.”—JCM

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40 • Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017

EDITOR'S LETTER JCM from page 11

River pilot. These extraordinary mariners are responsible for safely escorting huge cruise ships and container ships into our harbor. Here’s kind of a nutty story. Established author Nell Zink has written a novel titled “Nicotine,” which takes place in Jersey City. Adriana Rambay Fernández read the book and talked with the author. You may be surprised by her take on this tale of squatters in JC. Spring is in the air, always a lovely time in Jersey City, when the parks come to life, and Jersey Cityites emerge to take advantage of all the great things this city has to offer. —JCM

Protecting the rights of the injured and their families in Jersey City and throughout the state since 1929.

+PVSOBM 4RVBSF +FSTFZ $JUZ /+ Chatham | Jersey City | North Bergen | Sea Girt ( ) - | njatty.com

Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 •

FULL

STEAM AHEAD

Cutting-edge ideas at Innovation High School

PHOTOS BY VICTOR M. RODRIGUEZ

A striking mural in the hallways uses school colors.

Principal Dr. A. Ragland Wachera Brown

8:30 on a Thursday morning, things are hopping at Innovation High, which serves grades 9 through 12. Students quickly pass through metal detectors with what seems like a minimum of fuss. Ms. Redella Gunter, who staffs the front desk, appears to know every one

of these kids; she addresses many of them by name. School colors are hunter green, blue, and yellow; there’s a lot of green in evidence on the painted walls of the corridors, and in some offices. Posted outside Innovation High School Principal Dr. Wachera Brown’s office are team goals and action plans, which give hints about the academic culture at the school. One of the most important facets of Innovation is the advisory program. Mornings from 8:30 to 9:05 students check in with their advisors for community-building exercises. We stopped by to audit these programs and take pictures of students and

Digital Arts teacher Eugene Wang inspires the group.

42 • Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017

teachers as they interact during the sessions. We start with biology teacher Ms. Stacey McKoy, who’s moderating a discussion about manners, which starts with the basics of please, thank you, good morning, good afternoon, and the relative merits of good evening and good night. In Digital Art, Mr. Eugene Wang goes around the room, sharing the specific goals of some of his students. Justin wants to be more articulate, using a

Ninth-grade Class President Justin Suarez

The goal of Innovation High is to create “innovative critical thinkers.”

Math teacher Priscilla Camacho was Innovation High Teacher of the Year. new word every day. Another student wants to become a better volleyball player, another better at basketball, another better at track. They all have the Surface Pro 4, a great device for digital art. One student shows us the updates he’s designing for the flag of PS 38 elementary school. Math teacher Ms. Priscilla Camacho teaches pre-calculus and geometry. I figured the geometry part because when we arrive at her class, they’re deep into a discussion of triangles. You can tell right away why she was awarded Innovation’s Teacher of the Year. She’s bursting with energy and personality. She looks like a student, but has the commanding presence of a professor. When I disclose that I was terrible at math, she shoots back that I wouldn’t have been so terrible if I’d had her for a teacher. Touché. We’re standing in the common room when two faculty, easily identified as phys-ed teachers, saunter in. They’re wearing track suits and have that confident, easy gait of the athletically adept. It’s lucky they’re on board for all those kids in Mr. Wang’s class who want to improve their volleyball, basketball, and track skills.

Ready for Prime Time Dr. Brown put it in a nutshell: “Our mission is to offer students a STEAMfocused, project-based experience to prepare them to be real-world problem-solvers.”

Wow, that’s a mission that most of us could have used when we were in high school. The goal is to create “innovative critical thinkers” who work “collaboratively” and are “college-and-careerready.” “We hope students who select Innovation have some type of interest in science,” Brown says. “Most of the areas we provide are around STEAM areas,” she says, meaning Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Currently, there are only about 254 students in the school, which is at 239 Bergen Ave. By comparison, Dickinson High School has about 2,200. “It’s definitely a small community,” Brown says, “because in a small school setting, students benefit from a personalized, individual instruction program that makes personal connections with students.” The holistic approach is important. “Teachers work collaboratively in order to develop lessons for students that have an interdisciplinary focus,” Brown says. “Many classes connect across content areas,” adding, “Leaders who come to speak to the student body sense their enthusiasm about Innovation, as well as that of staff and teachers.” At Innovation, the school experience isn’t just about classes, courses, and curricula. “It’s about creating a learning environment,” Brown says. “Everyone works as a team, where feedback from both teachers and students is accepted, so that we can grow in our work.” Brown, who has a bachelor’s degree in biology as well as a master’s in biology curriculum, is well-positioned to steer the ship at Innovation High. A relative newcomer to Jersey City, Brown came onboard in April 2016. “I’m still learning the community,” she says.

“The staff here is remarkable. They work hard and are supportive in carrying out the vision in regard to innovation. Everyone works as a team and supports each other. The diversity of staff and students is rare.” Our signal to leave the premises is the most iconic of all sounds for any high school student: The bell rings. As we make our exit, students file out to their next classes. One of them, Ninth Grade Class President Justin Suarez, said he ran for the office because he wanted to “do good deeds for the school.” That’s just the kind of attitude that Innovation High School inspires. —Kate Rounds

A Digital Art student designs a flag.

Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 •

DATES JCM from page 35

turning points, their roots and community—both musical and personal—but they also express joy in the present, faith in the future, and a whole lot of hope and promise. Tickets are $15 in advance and $25 at the door.

AFTERSCHOOL & SUMMER PROGRAMS 2017 tĞ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵƐ ŝŶ ϱ ĐŽƌĞ ĂƌĞĂƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ Θ ĂƌĞĞƌ ĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚ͖ ŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌ Θ >ĞĂĚĞƌƐŚŝƉ͖ ^ƉŽƌƚƐ͕ &ŝƚŶĞƐƐ Θ ZĞĐƌĞĂƟŽŶ͕ dŚĞ ƌƚƐ͖ ĂŶĚ ,ĞĂůƚŚ Θ >ŝĨĞ ^ŬŝůůƐ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ŝƐ ƐŽŵĞͲ ƚŚŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ĞǀĞƌǇ ŐƌŽƵƉ ƚŽ ĞǆƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ĞŶũŽǇ͕ ĨƌŽŵ ĐŽŽŬŝŶŐ ƚŽ ďĂƐŬĞƚďĂůů͕ ĨƌŽŵ ĐŽĚŝŶŐ ĂƉƉƐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞĂƚĞƌ͕ ĨƌŽŵ ůǇƌŝĐŝƐŵ Θ ŚŝƉ ŚŽƉ ŵƵƐŝĐ ƚŽ ǀŝĚĞŽ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ͕ ĨƌŽŵ ŚŽŵĞǁŽƌŬ ĂƐƐŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ ƚŽ ĮĞůĚ ƚƌŝƉƐ ƚŽ ƐƉĞĐŝĂů ĞǀĞŶƚƐ͘ dŚĞ ŽǇƐ Θ 'ŝƌůƐ ůƵď ŚĂƐ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ĞǀĞƌǇŽŶĞ ƚŽ ůĞĂƌŶ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ĨƌŝĞŶĚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŝůů ůĂƐƚ Ă ůŝĨĞƟŵĞ͘

Program Locations: 225 Morris Blvd. Jersey City, NJ 07302, 201.333.4100 123 Jefferson Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030, Tel: 201.963.6443 7R (QUROO <RXU &KLOG LQ WKH 6XPPHU 3URJUDP %*&+& 25*

York Street Project Lasagna Dinner, St. Joseph School for the Blind, 761 Summit Ave., 6-9 p.m., yorkstreetproject.org. The tradition continues! Join us for an evening of eating tasty food, celebrating our women and their accomplishments, socializing with friends and winning great prizes. Reservations are required; this event costs $30, with proceeds benefitting the Kenmare High School Program.

APRIL 1 Juice Hip-Hop Exhibition, Cathedral Hall, 380 Montgomery St., 1-11 p.m., moxie1973.com. All-day exhibition and performances dedicated to all elements of Hip-Hop culture. DJs, emcees, dancers, artists, streetwear designers, and producers come together under one roof for one day and one culture. Visit our website for tickets. Spring Festival, Harborside Atrium, 10 a.m.2 p.m. Featuring puppet shows, arts and crafts, magicians, photo corners, music and pictures with the bunny. There will be lots of giveaways and surprises.

2 Light it Up for Autism Awareness, Newark Avenue Pedestrian Mall, 6-7 p.m. Smile Preschool, Sensory Kids and Social Minds LLC, and The HDSID invite you to raise awareness for Autism.

6 Community Easter Egg Hunt, Redeemer’s Community Church, 236 Van Horne St., 4-5 p.m., (973) 219-3720.

8 Annual Salt Marsh Clean Up, Liberty State Park, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., folsp.org. Volunteers needed. The Great Egg Hunt, Hamilton Park, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., (201) 589-0750. Join us for an egg hunt and other activities at the park. Van Vorst Park Egg Hunt, Van Vorst Park, 282 Montgomery St., 11 a.m.-3 p.m., (201) 433-6553. Join us for an Easter egg hunt for the youth.

12 Jazz at Harborside Series: Matt Chertkoff Trio F/ Houston Person, Harborside Atrium, 147 Harborside Financial Center Platform, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

15 Easter Egg Hunt, Columbia Park, 10-11 a.m., (201) 892-4629. This is a chance for the children to enjoy their Easter before Easter Sunday. see page 45

44 • Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017

DATES JCM from page 44

Easter Funday, Smile Preschool, 276 First St., 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Join the HDSID in bringing the Easter Bunny to Downtown JC. Enjoy free pictures with the Easter Bunny, candy, and face painting by Bellaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Face Painting. MakerLab: Molding with Thermoplastics, Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd., 10 a.m.12 p.m., (201) 253-1310. Join us at Liberty Science Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MakerLab and use 3D printers to create a unique mold for tasty treats like chocolate and jello. Makers will learn the science behind flexible plastics to create their molds, and then take them home. $50 per participant. Call to book your spot.

22 Family Weekend Labs: Magnificent Gaia, Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd., 10 a.m.12:30 p.m., lsc.org, (201) 253-1310. Celebrate planet Earth and learn the science of geology at Liberty Science Center. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll explore rocks, earthquakes, volcanoes, tectonic plates, and more. Each Family Weekend Lab is $40 per person; $25 for LSC members. Buy tickets at the Box Office or contact us to make reservations. MakerLab: Electronic Sewing, Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd., 10 a.m.-12 p.m., (201) 2531310. Join us in Liberty Science Centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MakerLab where you can use 3D printers to create your custom glowing bookmark, flag, or bracelet. Students will learn the science behind electronic sewing and take their creations home. $50 per participant. Call to book your spot. Annual Fundraising Walk for Liberty State Park, Liberty State Park, 10 a.m., folsp.org. Starts by Terminal parking lot.

Did you know Marist High School offers a summer program for K-9? The Marist A+ Summer Program includes: ) ! ! !#" "" " ) # ) $!! $ $ ) !#" "#!$ # ) ' ( #! " Learn. Experience. Have Fun. ) & & " "" "

Call us at 201-437-4545 for more information ' % ) ' ) www.marist.org

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Prep didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just help me on my path to excellence â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it was my path to excellence.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Dimas Sanchez, â&#x20AC;&#x2122;16

Jersey City Challenge Race, 1 Exchange Place, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., citychallengerace.com. Exchange Place will be transformed into an urban obstacle course with over 20 urban obstacles and challenges over a three-mile course; featuring real police and taxi cars for our challengers to jump over, cargo net, rope climb, walls, sand bags, and brand new challenges. Earth Day Festival, Liberty State Park, Audrey Zapp Drive, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Come and celebrate the earth at the largest Earth Day event in New Jersey. Get in touch with the roots of nature and see the land in its prime and inspire awareness and appreciation for the earth. With over 100 vendors, exhibits, rides, and activities, there is no chance of boredom.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast, St. Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Prep, 144 Grant St. 12-3 p.m., paulushook.nation builder.com/pancake_breakfast. Join us for pancakes, fruit, sausage, and gluten-free pancakes. Music, piĂąatas, and face painting provided for childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entertainment.

29 JCFamiliesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; School Summer Camp & Daycare Fair, City Hall, 280 Grove St., 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Get information and speak to representatives of major see page 49

Spring Open House | Sunday, May 7 | 1-3 p.m.

Saint Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Prep New Jerseyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Jesuit High School Since 1872

144 Grand Street | Jersey City, NJ 07302 | spprep.org

Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 â&#x20AC;˘

Currents, Channels,

HUDSON RIVER PILOTS

Bridges, and Buildings BY TARA RYAZANSKY PHOTOS BY MAX RYAZANSKY

John DeCruz

46 • Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017

aptain John DeCruz greets me on the dock wearing a suit, his tie whipping in the wind. Nearby, crew members are readying a boat in their windbreakers and jeans. DeCruz is a Full Branch Pilot for the New York Sandy Hook Pilots Association. He is also on the executive committee as the New Jersey president of the organization, which means that it’s his job to ensure that visiting ships are steered safely into the harbor. Pilots, who have been doing their important work since the 1600s, always maintain a strict dress code. “You’re getting on this ship, representing the state of New York and the state of New Jersey, you figure you want to give a good impression to this captain and crew that are coming from across the ocean to visit our port,” DeCruz says. Pilots board foreign ships or ships carrying foreign cargo via rope ladder to navigate them to their final destination using their expert knowledge of the harbor. Home port is in Staten Island, with panoramic views of Downtown Manhattan and the Verrazano Bridge. Beyond that, 30 miles east, is the New York , a ship known as pilot station, which serves as a sort of break room at sea for pilots who are between calls. Here at the dock is the New Jersey, another pilot station that replaces the New York when it refuels and serves as the pilots’ summer vessel. Also at the dock are smaller vessels, called pier launch boats, that take pilots out to visiting ships when duty calls. DeCruz’s job description changed two years ago when he was elected president. He no longer actively pilots. Now he manages daily operations, but

ON THE WATERFRONT JCM

he describes what his typical day once was. Jobs are assigned in order to a list of pilots who are on duty. A team of 73 active pilots— four of whom are women—works on a rotating schedule of four weeks on followed by two weeks off. DeCruz recalls that even though pilots know what number they are on the list, they don’t know exactly when that call is going to come. “If I’m in the top 10, I’m not going to go out to dinner or to a ballgame,” DeCruz says, “but it can be 2 a.m. when the phone rings.” When pilots are called out, they board a pier launch. If they’re already on the pilot station, they’ll board the launch there for a ride to the incoming ship, while it’s still out at sea. Then it’s time for the long climb up the rope ladder.

Landlubber Sets Sail

For me, it’s a challenge to take the long step from the dock to a waiting launch. DeCruz steps onto the bobbing boat with the ease that comes with years of experience. He tells me that he joined the Sandy Hook Pilots Association as an apprentice in 1997. During the five-year program, apprentices serve as

pilot station crew while they learn the trade. They study and draw charts called Federal Pilot Extensions that are intricate maps of the harbor. “You have to know the channels, the depths, the bridge heights, the buoy characteristics, the landmarks, the shoals,” DeCruz says. “You have to draw a total of about 20 charts, and when you’re done with those, you have to ride a thousand ships, and then you take your state exam.” The job doesn’t pay well during the pprenticeship. “We have something that’s called sweat equity,” DeCruz says. “You struggle first, but it pays off in the end when it’s over. Once you become a pilot, then you see the rewards. You pay your dues. It makes you a stronger person, it makes you appreciate this place more. You put your time in, and you’re a partner here.” Once an apprentice becomes a pilot, it takes seven more years to become a full branch pilot, who can escort the largest ships to port. After about 10 minutes the launch has taken us out near Jersey City, where DeCruz grew up, and his experience on the harbor began.

Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 •

ON THE WATERFRONT JCM

Captain of pilot boat George Jensen “I was lucky enough to have a grandfather and father who worked on the water here,” he says. “They worked on tugboats and barges. I would sit down on the Morris Canal and watch the ships come in.” Because of this background, he knew about the role that pilots play in the harbor. “The average kid sees a big ship come in, like say a cruise ship, and they think it’s just some captain with a big hat on steering the ship in. They don’t have any idea that it could be them one day.” DeCruz completed his maritime education at Fort Schuyler in the Bronx and worked on ships all over the world before applying to become a pilot. These days he speaks at schools in urban areas to teach young people about the opportunities in his industry.

Safe Harbor

The launch pulls into the enormous shadow of a container ship. DeCruz describes it as 900 TEUs, or 20-foot Equivalent Units, based on the number of 20-foot-long containers. Once the Bayonne Bridge is raised, even larger ships will be able to come through. It’s hard to imagine boarding a ship like this by way of a rope ladder even on a clear and unseasonably warm day like today. The dangers of a pilot’s job are very real. “We had two pilots fall last year,” DeCruz says. “We got them up quick. They’re recovering now.” Pilots use safety precautions like keeping an attentive crew and using flotation devices known as float coats. It’s not just

48 • Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017

John DeCruz personal safety that concerns pilots. DeCruz describes harrowing moments like mechanical failures. “You have a giant piece of steel, just drifting, that can’t just stop dead in the water, where you have to drop the anchor to slow you down,” DeCruz says. Luckily pilots undergo extensive and continuous training in simulators. The launch heads back to the dock. A new association headquarters is being built nearby. The previous one was destroyed during Superstorm Sandy. Once completed, it will house dispatchers and executive offices. Onboard the New Jersey the smell of bacon wafts up from the mess area. Below decks are two mess halls, one for pilots, the other for apprentices and other crew members. There’s also a lounge and a TV room. Deeper into the ship is a bunk area with a pilot section, where they can rest between calls. The bunks are four to a room and far from spacious. “A big guy like me, it can be tough, but if you’re really tired you pass out,” DeCruz says. Since the Port of New York and New Jersey is the busiest on the East Coast, a pilot’s workday can be tiring, but the volume of ships coming in is another reason that their expertise is so important. Pilots keep us safe. Looking out of the porthole of the New Jersey, I see ferries carrying commuters, and pleasure boats whizzing through the harbor. DeCruz says, “A pilot’s role is not only to guide the ship, but to protect the harbor as well.” —JCM sandyhookpilots.com

DATES JCM from page 45

schools, daycares, summer camps, and activity centers in and around Jersey City and Hoboken.

Newport 10K, 100 Town Square Pl., 8:30-11:30 a.m. Registration is now open. The course is USATF certified, composed of flat, local roads and interweaves along the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway with a spectacular view of the New York skyline. Post-race festivities will begin at Newport Town Square at 10 a.m. featuring music, refreshment, and prize drawings. Proceeds will be donated to the Jersey City Medical Center-Barnabas Health.

MAY 3 Artist and Maker Market, Grove Street PATH Plaza, 5-9 p.m. A unique opportunity to shop directly from emerging new makers and established artists to find one-of-a-kind items and meet the people who made them.

4 York Street Projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Spring Event, Liberty House Restaurant, 76 Audrey Zapp Dr., 6-9 p.m., yorkstreetproject.org. Proceeds from the event will benefit the programs of York Street Project and their mission to break the cycle of poverty for homeless and low-income families.

Family Weekend Labs: The Wild World of Weather, Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd., 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., lsc.org, (201) 253-1310. Tornadoes, hurricanes, rain storms, clouds! Come to Liberty Science Center and explore the science of meteorology and learn about a meteorologistâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s job. Each Family Weekend Lab is $40 per person; $25 for LSC members.

Buy tickets at the Box Office or contact us to make reservations.

7 Friends of Liberty State Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Annual Fundraising Awards Luncheon, Liberty House Restaurant, 76 Audrey Zapp Dr., Time TBA, folsp.org. Honoring Andy Willner, Bike JC, Tough Mudder, and Green Thumb Award. Third Edition New Jersey Paella Festival, Exchange Place, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. (908) 9553082, paellafortheworld.org. Free.

12 The Defending Champions: Danceable Rock â&#x20AC;&#x2122;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Roll, Grace Church Van Vorst, 39 Erie St., 7:30-9:30 p.m., cathedral artslive.org. Composing with their ears bent to the righteous stylings of soul, ska and gypsy music, and held fast by rock â&#x20AC;&#x2122;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; roll, the band is allowed enormous room to impact all those ready to dance and be

captivated. Announced by Jersey Rock Review as whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s needed in popular music today, The Defending Champions are what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve wanted to hear but didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know was sonically possible: better music for the best life.

13 Memorial 5k Race for Jersey Fire Captain Mark Lee, Liberty State Park, 200 Morris Pesin Dr., (908) 431-9800. This 5k run and 1-mile family walk by American Cancer Fund honors 9/11 First Responder Fire Captain Mark Lee. This is followed by the Fire Department Humanitarian Award and race medals.

17 Artist and Maker Market, Grove Street PATH Plaza, 5-9 p.m. A unique opportunity to shop directly from emerging new makers and established artists to find one-of-a-kind items and meet the people who made them.

20 2017 New Jersey Armed Forces Day Festival, Liberty State Park, Audrey Zapp Dr., 8 a.m., (862) 217-4226. With a spectacular view of Lady Liberty herself, it will be a time for family fun and, with the Liberty Lightning 9k, great competition, while allowing us to honor and reflect upon the young people serving this great nation. Along with military displays and demonstrations represented by every branch of our armed forces, there will be music, food, and vendors.

JUNE 2 Artist and Maker Market, Grove Street PATH Plaza, 3-10 p.m. A unique opportunity to shop directly from emerging new makers and established artists to find one-of-a-kind items and meet the people who made them. see page 50

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Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 â&#x20AC;˘

Dr. Lena Edwards ACADEMIC CHARTER SCHOOL

DATES JCM from page 49

JC Fridays-Citywide Arts Celebration, a full day of arts events in Jersey City organized by Art House Productions. All events are free and open to the public. Support the arts and explore your city.

3 Jersey City Craft Brew Fest, Harborside Atrium, Christopher Columbus Dr., 12-9:30 p.m., jerseycitybeerfest.com. In the spirit of Oktoberfest, a traditional German celebration of beer and countrymen will be held with over 150 styles of craft beer featuring many NJ breweries.

3-10 Riverview Jazz Festival, Riverview-Fisk Park, 12-8 p.m. Featuring jazz bands, food trucks, a vintage flea market, kid-friendly activities, and more. Free and open to the public.

9 Golf Outing, Skyway Golf Course, 515 Duncan Ave., 3-9 p.m., (201) 763-7520. Join us for a friendly golf competition with your neighbors. As you team up with your friends and play the challenging 9-hole scramble, enjoy a cold beer and take your chances to win prizes for longest drive, closest to the pin or a hole-in-one.

10 Family Weekend Labs: LSC Backyard Safari, Liberty Science Center, 222 Jersey City Blvd., 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., lsc.org, (201) 253-1310. June is World Environmental Month. Come to Liberty Science Center and explore the natural world of New Jersey, and get ready for an up-close-andpersonal meet-and-greet with some of LSC’s animal friends. Each Family Weekend Lab is $40 per person; $25 for LSC members. Buy tickets at the Box Office or contact us to make reservations.

14 Artist and Maker Market, Grove Street PATH Plaza, 5-9 p.m. A unique opportunity to shop directly from emerging new makers and established artists to find one-of-a-kind items and meet the people who made them.

15 Evening Under the Stars, York Street Project, 89 York St., 6-9 p.m., yorkstreetproject.org. Proceeds from the event will benefit the programs of York Street Project and their mission to break the cycle of poverty for homeless and low-income families.

28 Free Movie Night, Newport Green Playground, 8-11 p.m. Join us for a free movie screening on the Newport Green. Loradella’s ice cart will be on-site selling their delicious Italian ice.

see page 51

50 • Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017

DATES JCM from page 50

CAMMARATA, NULTY & GARRIGAN, L.L.C.

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Artist and Maker Market, Grove Street PATH Plaza, 5-9 p.m. A unique opportunity to shop directly from emerging new makers and established artists to find one-of-a-kind items and meet the people who made them. Free Movie Night, Newport Green Playground, 8-11 p.m. Join us for a free movie screening on the Newport Green. Loradellaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ice cart will be on-site selling their delicious Italian ice.

26 Artist and Maker Market, Grove Street PATH Plaza, 5-9 p.m. A unique opportunity to shop directly from emerging new makers and established artists to find one-of-a-kind items and meet the people who made them.

AUGUST 2 Artist and Maker Market, Grove Street PATH Plaza, 5-9 p.m. A unique opportunity to shop directly from emerging new makers and established artists to find one-of-a-kind items and meet the people who made them.

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Shakespeare in the Park: Kids and the Classics Workshop and Performance, Newport Green Playground, 6:30-9 p.m. The free 45-minute interactive workshop is offered one hour before every performance, and is designed for children ages 4-14. It gives children a chance to interact with the text by previewing the characters and situations, creating links between the text and their own lives through theater games and close reading of text.

12 Disco in the Park, Van Vorst Park, 7-10:30 p.m. Break out your bell bottoms, your sequin halter tops and platform shoes. Van Vorst Boogie is back. Join us as we disco the night away. All are welcome. Free.

16 Artist and Maker Market, Grove Street PATH Plaza, 5-9 p.m. A unique opportunity to shop directly from emerging new makers and established artists to find one-of-a-kind items and meet the people who made them.

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18 Summer Sendoff, Van Vorst Park, 7-10:30 p.m. Send off the summer in style with a grown-up potluck, hosted by the Van Vorst Park Association. Bring your dinner and drinks and wear shades of white. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll provide the tables, chairs, music and dessert. This will be a night to remember.

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see page 55

Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 â&#x20AC;¢

e W w o H

E V I L Park Foundry PHOTOS BY VICTOR M. RODRIGUEZ

Chris, left, and Joe

52 • Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017

Barbra Streisand so memorably pointed out, the difference between a house and a home is of course the people who occupy it. On a snowy Saturday morning in January, there was lots of good cheer coming from this gorgeous fourth-floor unit in Park Foundry. There were a bunch of foundries in Jersey City back in the day, a foundry being a factory that casts metal. At Park Foundry, Edward Schroeder’s Lamp Works and Brass Foundry was making lamps for railroads, street cars, ships, and hotels, as well as railings, and “all kinds of brass work, fitting and specialties.” This was in the late 1800s, when the address was 716-718 Jersey Ave., and the phone number was a simple 474. (Thank you John Beekman with the New Jersey Room of the Jersey City Free Public Library!) When you enter the 21st-century lobby, right away you get a sense of how faithful the renovation is: original wood, painted bricks, high ceilings, archival images, and a general sense of a spare, industrial aesthetic. The first thing you see when you enter the apartment is a huge arched window. On the first and fourth floors, these original windows have been restored, forming a dramatic focal point for the foundry’s renovated units. The windows let in so much light on a sunny day that there is no need for heat, warming the place to a balmy 80 degrees. But it’s tenants Chris Styler and Joe Seoane who are providing the real warmth: firm handshakes,

friendly eye contact, and maybe a dozen offers of food and drink. A beautiful plate of smoked salmon looked tempting. An offer of food from these two is a big deal. Chris is a Johnson and Wales graduate, who, among many other things, appeared on Julia Child’s last show and worked on three books with Lidia Bastianich. But they love JC eateries, frequenting the Hamilton Inn, Madame Claude’s, the Light Horse, GPs, the White Star, Pint, and the Cellar. They give a special nod to Kitchen Step. Joe is vice president of client relations for the Council on Accreditation, an international nonprofit that audits some 2,200 human services organizations. Chris hails from New Jersey, and Joe grew up in New York City’s Chelsea neighborhood, attending Xavier High School on 16th Street. The apartment reflects that Chelsea feel. Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 •

The couple bought much of the furniture in that section of town, invoking the nostalgia of the old meatpacking district, where Florent ruled, as well as its current incarnation as an epicenter for Apple Geniuses. They’ve also nabbed some pieces from the newly revived Asbury Park and New Hope’s renowned antique shops. The unit has two bedrooms and one and a half baths. One of the bedrooms is used as an office with a couch, desk, computer, TV, and shelves with real books. The living room features a bright red couch and Danish modern dining set. Every detail, from the salmon on the counter and the fruit in a bowl to the yellow tulips in the bedroom, fits perfectly with the chosen palette. The overall feeling is minimalist with virtually no, and I mean no, clutter. I was reluctant to leave my gloves on the table for fear of messing up the place, but don’t get the wrong idea; these guys are not fussy about it; there will be no repercussions if a glove disrupts the still life. In fact, we laughed a lot. They’re really fun, and you get the sense that if you weren’t there on business, you’d be there for brunch. These two gentlemen have made a beautiful house into a welcoming home. Streisand would be proud.—Kate Rounds

54 • Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017

DATES JCM from page 51

Artist and Maker Market, Grove Street PATH Plaza, 3-10 p.m. A unique opportunity to shop directly from emerging new makers and established artists to find one-ofa-kind items and meet the people who made them.

Jersey City LGBT Pride Festival, Newark Avenue, between Grove Street and Jersey Avenue, 12-8 p.m., jerseycitypride.com. The Jersey City Pride Festival celebrates the diversity of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender communities and allies of Hudson County and the New York City metropolitan area.

SEPTEMBER 1 JC Fridays-Citywide Arts Celebration, a full day of arts events in Jersey City organized by Art House Productions. All events are free and open to the public. Support the arts and explore your city.

9 Jersey City Wine Fest, Harborside Atrium, Christopher Columbus Drive, 12:30-10 p.m., (973) 9272794. Wine Fest is your all-access pass to hundreds of new wines from around the world. Travel the world of wine at Harborside’s waterfront property. Guests will enjoy unlimited wine samples paired with live entertainment, food and interactive games.

16 All About Downtown Street Fair, Newark Avenue between Grove

Street and Coles Street, 12-8 p.m. Featuring over a hundred vendors selling all sorts of products ranging from handmade jewelry to one-of-a-kind art work, top food trucks in the tri-state area, and all sorts of fun for the family.

17 Newport Liberty Half Marathon, 100 Town Square Pl., 8:3011:30 p.m. The Newport Liberty Half Marathon, with views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and the stunning Manhattan skyline, is also the fastest around. This USATF certified course takes you along the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway and across to Liberty State Park—flat terrain with open skies. Post-race celebration will be at Newport Town Square with plenty of refreshments, music and drawings for exciting prizes. Proceeds donated to the Jersey City Medical Center-Barnabas Health.

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2017

2300 Kennedy Blvd Jersey City

C.F.H. Home Decor & Accessories 246 Bay Street . Jersey City, NJ 07302 Large selection of jewelry . Capri blue candles . Decorative pillows . Turkish lamps Honey soap gift sets . And many more accessories from around the world Monday - Saturday 10am to 7pm . Sunday 11am to 6pm

www.facebook.com/cfhboutique

Jersey CITY Magazine ~ FALL | WINTER 2016 •

BUSINESSES MAKE JERSEY CITY WORK PHOTOS BY ALYSSA BREDIN

ROFLCOPTER Toys & Gifts 298 Newark Ave. (201) 659-3414 roflcoptershop.com

Roflcopter Toys & Gifts you can find everything from classic tin cars to newly released games, but one toy that stands out is a Jersey City icon scaled down to just 12 inches. “The Hoberman Sphere at Liberty Science Center was invented by my ex-husband, Chuck Hoberman, in the late ’80s,” says shop owner Carolyn Hoberman as she expands and contracts the miniature version of the dome that has mesmerized schoolchildren since it was installed in the museum entry in 1991. The shop carries the toy version in various sizes. “We call it the mother of all spheres,” Hoberman says. Carolyn Hoberman lived in lower Manhattan for 30 years before moving to Jersey City three years ago. Back then, a friend who worked in the toy industry often crashed at the Hobermans when she was in New York for toy conventions. Hoberman loved to tag along. A few years after the sphere was installed at Liberty Science Center, Hoberman was wandering around the Javits Center checking out the newest toys and games. “I was thinking, ‘I’ve got to get into this industry. It’s so cool,’” recalls Hoberman, who worked as a graphic designer. “Then I thought of the reaction that children always had to the Hoberman Sphere and I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if we could make a toy out of it?’” Soon after, the Hobermans became toy manufacturers. She says the real breakthrough came once they got the price of the toy sphere down from about $50 to $20. “This was before Shark Tank,” she says. “If only I had those guys to talk to. Finally, instead of a few hundred toys here or there, we were selling them by the thousands.” In 2004 the Hobermans stopped manufacturing the toy themselves, though they still manage the intellectual property of the Hoberman Sphere. “We work together with the toy company, and we have a daughter together, so that’s another project that we share,” laughs Hoberman. Her daughter, who is now in college abroad, grew up surrounded by toys. As a baby her nursery was adjacent to their office. Motherhood allowed Hoberman to embrace her lifelong love of toys. “It was the most fun,” she recalls. “Being into toys is one thing, but having a child to play with is another. It brings back a kind of vivid memory of your own

Carolyn Hoberman childhood that’s just super. It’s a funny transition for an empty nester to make, owning a toy store!” But Hoberman didn’t open Roflcopter just because she wanted to play with toys again. “I saw a need when I moved here,” she says. “There are so many families, and there was no specialty toy store.” She loves shopping to stock her shelves. Now when she goes to those toy conventions, she isn’t just browsing. “Somebody called it a curating act,” she says. “I just try to pull together the best-quality developmental toys. Even if it looks like it’s only fun, there’s developmental stuff happening.” Children learn from playing, she says, whether it’s about building motor skills or exercising the imagination.

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The store, which is at the edge of Historic Downtown Jersey City, is bright and fun and packed with toys and games. There’s a small play area where kids can try the merchandise while parents shop. There’s lots to see. Hoberman carries an eclectic selection that includes everything from gifts for newborns, like onesies screen-printed with “New Jersey,” to games and craft sets that could inspire a tween to forget about screens. She has something for everyone, and she has a knack for helping her little customers find just what they’re looking for. “I love trying to find the right toy for each kid,” she says. continued on page 59

HOW WE WORK JCM

James Dembrowski and pals (left to right) Bella, Sophie, Ginger, Kate, Mille, and Goldie

EXECUTIVE DOG LOUNGE 192 York St. executivedoglounge.com (201) 451-0672

alk about following your bliss. James Dembrowski was a sevenyear-old Wild Kingdom fiend who dreamed of the Serengeti Plain and ended up at the Executive Dog Lounge. “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom was the highlight of the week,” he recalls. “I’ve been fascinated with animals my entire life.” Spend just a few minutes in the Executive Dog Lounge, and you understand the meaning of “It’s a dog’s life.” The lounge features a color scheme of red and black. Dog videos play on a large flat-screen TV, mirrors and paintings grace the walls, and a fake gas fire burns in a fireplace. Dogs lounge on bright red sofas and ottomans. On the day we visited, there were six of them. They’re all regulars and happened to be female. Sophie is a miniature pinscher, Millie is a terrier mix, Kate is an English bulldog, Ginger is an Australian Labradoodle, Bella is a French bulldog,

and Goldie is a long-haired Chihuahua mix. A Yorkie named Sophie wears a pink vest that reads “It’s all about me, and me.” (not pictured) The dogs are clearly friends. They bark and run around and enjoy each other’s company. Dembrowski’s day job was working in the restaurant business in New York City. Part time, he was working for Lisbeth at Glamour Pet Salon & Vanity on Marin Boulevard, right across from the where the Executive Dog Lounge now is. “She was consistently asked if she did daycare, but that wasn’t an option,” Dembrowski says. “We talked about it offhandedly, and that grew into ‘yeah, definitely.’ I started in my spare time doing research and putting together a business plan.” Not surprisingly, it was an interaction with an animal that got things rolling. “An adorable dog named Trouble was abandoned at the salon, and that’s where it all clicked,” Dembrowki says. “It was cosmic. Trouble landed in our lives, so to speak. Then we were full-steam ahead.” The lounge has a dog-centered philosophy. Basically, if you wouldn’t leave

your kids alone all day in a crate, why would you do that to a dog? Most dogs in Jersey City live in apartments or condos without a lot of yard space. “We wanted to create something that’s beautiful and amazing, a great service that was safe,” Dembrowski says. “A new dog that comes feels comfortable with couches, ottomans, and TVs, like home,” he says. “I wanted to mix my hospitality background with my newfound dog background, a beautiful boutique dog lounge, where dogs can socialize and be well supervised and cared for.” In his Wild Kingdom days, Dembrowski was living in Danvers, Mass., on Boston’s North Shore. He found his way to Jersey City in 2005 by way of Boston, Tel Aviv, Cape Town, and San Diego. Coming up with a name that fit the ambience and the philosophy was tough. “We went back and forth with names that didn’t fit,” Dembrowski relates. “Then one day we were sitting around joking that it looked like a lounge for CEOS from different companies. That was the light-bulb moment. It all came together—executive dog lounge.” continued on page 59

Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 •

HOW WE WORK JCM

Sisters Judy Vesa (left) Pilar Lhermit

COUTURE FOR HOMES 246 Bay St. facebook.com/cfhboutique

hen I first walked into Couture for Homes’ retail shop, my first thought was, “Why didn’t I know about this before Christmas?” It’s an intimate boutique, jam-packed with beautiful gift items, including jewelry, soap, candles, bags, eyewear, hats, scarves, pillows, mats, Turkish bowls, napkins, bed quilts, lamps, tapestries, sheets, tablecloths, agates, and I’m sure other items that I may have missed. The shop is part of the Couture for Homes workroom at 113 Brunswick, a European company specializing in traditional French wall upholstery, custom-made window treatments, and upholstery for furniture. “We’ve been in business for over 20 years, and in downtown Jersey City for the last 10,” says owner Pilar Lhermit. The dozen or so employees in the Brunswick studio work with high-end architects and designers worldwide, as well as publications such as Architectural Digest.

As part of her job, Lhermit travels widely, including to Central America, Brazil, and Afghanistan. “I’ve had an opportunity to see things other people don’t see,” she says. “I’ve always wanted to open a shop, and two years ago, I decided it was time.” A space opened up next to New Zion Nails on Bay Street. “I was sourcing goods from all over the world,” she says. The work room and retail shop operate in tandem. “We convert beautiful leftover fabrics into tote bags, pillows, and table napkins.” The shop carries all-natural men’s products, some exclusively to the Jersey City store. “We’re one of the few places in downtown that carries a large amount of candles,” Lhermit says. “Some people call us the candle store, but we carry anything from handbags and luggage to jewelry—everything that’s unusual and usual.” She prides herself on offering products that have no chemicals. Lhermit owns the business with her husband, Olivier, who’s in the textile industry. A native Floridian, Lhermit lived in New York City for many years. Her route to Jersey City is well traveled.

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“After our first child, we were looking for other areas,” she says, “and when we came upon Jersey City, we fell in love with it. Jersey City is like a small town next to a big city. You can walk on the sidewalk without having to push anybody. It’s relaxing, you don’t have to wait in line in restaurants, and there are trees.” As we all know, downtown JC is a great place for walkers. “I love the fact that everything is within walking distance,” Lhermit says. “I walk to and from Key Foods.” Couture for Homes is a family business. “We keep it strictly family,” Lhermit says. “Two or three family members work in the retail store. “Families care a little bit more, and give the best customer service.” Her sister, niece, and brother commute from Elizabeth to work in the shop. Customer service includes sharing the stories of the products with customers and encouraging them to “hold, touch, and feel” the items. She shows me a tablecloth that’s used as a bed sheet in India. “It has block printing, and it’s not 100 percent perfect,” she says, which is a good thing.

HOW WE WORK JCM

The shop features modern shelving and white walls, which show the very colorful merchandise to its best advantage. Couture for Homes has established a great rapport with the neighborhood. “Some come in everyday and say hello to us,” Lhermit says. “They love the shop. We see the same faces every day.” The bond is so strong that regulars pay what they can, and then pay the rest later. “Ninety-nine percent of the time we say yes, and we always see them in a couple of days,” Lhermit says.

from page 56

Her design background and manufacturing experience serve her well. She also had some retail experience when she was young. “One of the things I understood from my college days when I ran a shop is that a store can be like a hub of the community,” Hoberman says. She hopes that Roflcopter, which opened last October, can grow to become that kind of hub. “I’m a newcomer here, and I’ve met a lot of really great people already. I find it really supportive.”

One of her only regrets is “underestimating Christmas. We had a great response and turnout. People said, ‘Thank you, you saved me hours at the mall, and I got everything I need.’” She’s going to be better prepared for next Christmas. Lhermit and her husband take full advantage of the neighborhood, eating pizza from Porto’s and spaghetti and meatballs from Roman Nose. “In the beginning when I first came from New York, it was an adjustment and shock,” Lhermit says. “Now it’s my home, and I can’t wait to come home after traveling around the world.” —Kate Rounds

from page 57

Where does the name Roflcopter come from? “It’s a texting term, like LOL,” she says. “It means rolling on the floor laughing. The copter part is, can’t operate properly ’til eyes refocus, so you’re laughing so hard you can’t see.” Laughing herself, she says, “Kids of a certain age get it.” —Tara Ryazansky Check out facebook.com/Rofl coptershop and @roflcoptershop on Instagram and Twitter.

If you’re wondering what it means to be in an executive dog lounge, Dembrowki asks you to think about what it means to be in a human’s executive lounge. “It’s a high-end service but not for high-end dogs,” he says. “It’s a social environment, where you hang out, have doggie everything, sleep, play, rest, and be constantly supervised. It’s more expensive, but not that much.” In all his traveling around, Dembrowski did make it to the Serengeti and got to experience lots of animals, including gorillas in the jungle. But now, he says, “My dogs, they’re a dream come true.”—Kate Rounds

Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 •

JC’s New Gold Coast A West Side story

Old Roosevelt Stadium. Photo courtesy of Library of Congress

BY AL SULLIVAN

t was here, in 1946, that professional baseball’s color barrier was broken. Playing his first Minor League game against the Jersey City Giants at Roosevelt Stadium, Jackie Roosevelt Robinson of the Kansas City Royals made international history on Jersey City’s western shore. The 19-acre Roosevelt Stadium, named for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, opened on April 22, 1937. In 1950, Sugar Ray Robinson defended his welterweight title there. Though the stadium hosted concerts by the likes of the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers, the Beach Boys, Eric Clapton, Tony Bennett, Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young, the Eagles, and Kiss, by 1978, it had fallen into disrepair and was considered structurally unsound. Now, a huge development project is slated to transform the vast area, where the stadium once stood, a locale steeped in history. It was a Native American hunting ground, Dutch

Photo courtesy of New Jersey Room, Jersey CIty Free Public Library

60 • Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017

Photos by Al Sullivan

Droyers Point settlers considered the spot an “easy” place to cross the Hackensack River, and in the 1920s, it was the site of a historic airfield.

Rescue and Recovery

Construction Site

In 1982, Jersey City Mayor Gerald McCann, who is largely responsible for the redevelopment of the waterfront along the Hudson River, took what would become the first steps toward the development of the Hackensack River waterfront. A major challenge was the cleanup of chromium that polluted that portion of the river. A multi-site reclamation project up and down the river incorporated the efforts of many entities, including Honeywell, the conglomerate that had been accused of dumping chromium in the area. A few years later, the K. Hovnanian Companies of Red Bank constructed Society Hill, a condominium development on 90 acres where the stadium once stood. Droyer’s Point, a gated community in the same area, was built in the mid-2000s.

Construction Site with Hudson County Jail in view Photo by Al Sullivan

Although McCann started the process, many credit Mayor Glenn Cunningham with the vision for developing a new Gold Coast along the Hackensack on a site formerly owned by Honeywell, north of Society Hill. An early resident of Society Hill, Cunningham saw the landscape as rich in history and decay. The Route 440 corridor had long become an eyesore by the time Cunningham had become council president in the late 1980s, something he vowed to change when he became mayor slightly more than a decade later. Under Cunningham, the city altered its master plan in May 2000, designating

the entire corridor for Waterfront Planned Development. The Bayfront I Redevelopment Area is part of a larger vision called the Jersey City Bayside Development Plan, completed under Cunningham in May 2003, setting the stage for redevelopment of the entire corridor. Although others have followed in his footsteps, Cunninghamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s multi-stage plan is on the brink of becoming a reality. The city and Honeywell have teamed up to construct yet another phase in what some see as the most ambitious private-public partnership since the days of Frank Hague.

On the Dock of the Bay The project, which is in Jersey Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 1,344-acre Bayside Development Zone, received approval from the city council in 2008 and is slated to offer more than 8,100 residential units and nearly 1 million square feet of office space on a 95acre site. The effort has been hailed by business and government leaders, as well as environmentalists like Riverkeeper Bill Sheehan. Honeywell, overseen by former U.S. Senator Robert Torricelli, cleaned up the chromium contamination. Construction, which started late last year, is not expected to be completed until 2043. A number of buildings had to be demolished, including an old bowling alley. Department of Public Works operations were moved to a new site on Linden Avenue to allow for the demolition of DPW and Jersey City Incinerator Authority buildings; the city combined the DPW and JCIA last year. The project will offer many amenities. Among them retail space, affordable housing, public waterfront access, and 20 acres of open space, including two parks extending from Route 440 to the Hackensack River, as well as the continuation of the Riverwalk in Society Hill.

The project adopts basic components of urban Smart Growth with a circulator bus, a light rail stop, green buffers, and paths for pedestrians and cyclists. The plan will incorporate renewable energy and materials, a sustainable storm-water management plan, and green roofs and terraces. Retail will be located along a pedestrian way and the transit plaza, creating a European-style shopping street.

Construction Connection The plan will join west side development projects, including recent construction at Droyer’s Point; residences adjacent to the West Side Light Rail stop; and the expansion of the New Jersey City University urban campus, directly across Route 440 from the Bayfront property. “It is a huge project that will transform that entire section of the city,” said Freeholder Bill O’Dea, who represents that portion of the city. “Over the course of a decade it will result in close to 10,000 residential units and 20,000 new residences since it is not only Bayfront but also the bordering neighborhood.” About 38 percent of the area is vacant land, 42 percent tax-exempt, with the rest a mix of industrial space.

Morris Canal Photo by Al Sullivan

You Can Get There From Here The refunding of the state’s Infrastructure Trust Fund will allow the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, which stops at West Side Avenue, to connect directly to the Bayfront development, providing direct access to Manhattan via the PATH system. Well-established and expansive mass-transit options and roads will connect residents to the rest of the Tri-State area. The right-of-way for the old Central Railroad of New Jersey tracks is currently being considered for an expansion of

Renderings courtesy of A Nelessen Assoc., Inc., plannig and design firm

the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, a key element in the revival of the area. “Without light rail service, the site would generate about 4,000 units,” DeGise said. “With the extension, the site will create about 8,100 units. Transportation and infrastructure are interrelated. Wherever the light rail has gone, development has followed.” This huge tract of big-box stores, car dealerships, and municipal offices, will soon be our new Gold Coast. We’ve come a long way since the Robinsons—Jackie and Sugar Ray—batted and boxed their way to stardom in Jersey City. —JCM

PHOTOS BY TERRI SAULINO BISH

alde is really a restaurant for all seasons. The last time I visited, it was summer. Folks were sitting outside on Erie and Bay streets. The place was packed, and the hubbub of the nearby pedestrian mall gave the whole scene a lively, light, summer-evening feel. My second visit was in late January. It was early on a Monday night. The restaurant had not yet begun to fill up. Though it’s a huge space, it has a warm, loft-like feel, with lots of distressed wood, lanterns, hanging lights, brick walls, and a polished concrete floor. Bright red chairs offer a colorful accent. You get a general feeling of relief to be inside a toasty and welcoming place on a chilly night. Huge windows look out on the corner of Erie and Bay. Across the street is Very Clothes & Goods, a vintage shop, offering a charming contrast to Talde’s modern façade. Ironically, the pedestrian mall was again jammed with people—this time for a protest against the president’s immigration order. Our fellow reporter, Al Sullivan, was covering it, so it was like the gang’s all here. In both cases, the downtown Jersey City vibe was electric. A long table offers family-style seating. You also have your choice of tables and booths. On each table is a tin can of chopsticks and various condiments.

64 • Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017

Talde bills itself as a “casual Asian-American restaurant and bar, brought to you by Chef Dale Talde, David Massoni, and John Bush.” Dale Talde is an American chef best known for competing on two seasons of the Bravo reality cooking competition Top Chef. Talde helped open the famed Morimoto in New York City. A Filipino-American, his cuisine features Filipino, Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese flavors. Many Asian touches enhance the décor, especially a large grouping of “highly-regarded” porcelain Chinese emperors that reign from on high. Our thanks to Diego, one of Talde’s excellent servers, for enlightening us. Speaking of which, the staff is helpful but not hovering. Matt was the manager that night, Michelle was the bar manager, and Angela did a great job of serving us. A word about the bar; it is truly ginormous, running the full length of the restaurant, with a shiny wood surface. Lots of patrons like sitting at the bar, where they can enjoy a drink and order dinner. The menu’s appetizers, in particular, make handy, easy-to-eat bar food. We ordered the Mc Bao appetizer, described as “char siu boneless ribs with pickles.” The ribs were incredibly tender, with a wonderful sweet sauce. Bao is steamed Chinese bread made in-house. Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 •

URTIS EXECUTIVE CHEF RUBY FELIX-C

66 • Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017

Other appetizers include kale salad, squash salad, shiitake mushroom robata, shrimp shumai, edamame falafel bao, kung po chicken wings, and yuzu guacamole. The beer selection goes from a gentle San Miguel, which I ordered, to a host of interesting choices, such as Ommegang Abbey and Captain Lawrence Kolsch on draft and bottles of Hiachino, Duvel, and a brisk Sixpoint Crisp in a slender can. Departed Soles Seasonal Selection, in both draft and bottles, is brewed by local brewer Departed Soles, nearby on Bay Street. We did a feature on the brewery in our Fall/Winter 2016/17 issue. By the way, our cover girl for that issue was striptease artist Lillian Bustle, who hosts her Speakeasy Burlesque at Talde the first Tuesday of every month, 8 p.m., $10 at the door. Behind the bar, a nondescript door hidden in plain sight opens onto a winding industrial staircase that leads to a little bar and performance area known as Miss Wong’s Lounge, where the shows are staged. OK, back to the food. Noodle dishes include wonton ramen, chow fun, lobster tom kha, crispy oyster and bacon pad thai, and beef short rib kare kare. Executive Chef Ruby Felix-Curtis did us the great honor of personally delivering our food. If you’ve never ordered a whole fish, complete with head and tail,

Talde 8 Erie St. (201) 630-0077 taldejerseycity.com

you need to man up. And Talde might be the place to take your maiden voyage. We dove right into the whole roasted branzino, resting in a bed of banana leaves, with dill, mint, and cilantro. Under the lightly roasted skin is a delicate fish, bathed in a spicy turmeric and tomato sauce. The sauce is a little hot, but the fish, along with moo shu pancakes, neutralized the heat. The pancakes are a Chinesestyle flour tortilla, traditionally used for peking duck dishes.

And last, we ordered an enormous mound of blue crab fried rice with tobiko and jalapeno aioli. Tobiko is apparently flying fish roe, and it’s what gives the dish its red-orange accents. Really tasty and way too much, even for two, the crab fried rice was the one thing we took home. It was hard to go back into the cold. On the street, things were sill lively, and Talde is in the middle of the action.—Kate Rounds

Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 •

Pint 34 Wayne St. (201) 367-1222 pintbar.com

68 â&#x20AC;¢ Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017

PHOTOS BY TERRI SAULINO BISH

hen the only thing on the menu is free homemade popcorn, you know you’re in a real watering hole. Pint, on Wayne, right off Grove, is just that, and its hours are marathon, often staying open until 3 a.m. If you’re an insomniac and you wake up in the middle of the night and get a yen for a craft beer, head over to Pint. It’s also a popular spot for restaurant workers after their shifts. The space is cozy and bright, with a chalkboard that runs the length of the bar and a collection of tap handles on a shelf above the small wooden booths. Each booth has a row of tap handles as part of the décor. Patrons can also sit on stools pulled up to high tables, each with a digital trivia game called Buzztime. An app called Rockbot allows participants to pick songs from a preapproved library of tunes.

There’s a free phone-charging station, and helpful hooks all over the place, especially under the bar where you can hang your coat and backpack, so they are safe and out of the way. The bar, under various names, has been around since 1911; it’s been Pint for six years. Tommy DeMaio has been managing Pint for five years. A Middletown native, he’d been casting around for a career, trying sports and finance. He decided to go to bartending school, and landed the Pint job as soon as he graduated. “I fell in love immediately,” he says. But it’s amazing he got the job at all after telling the boss that his favorite beer was Keystone. “I thought all beers were the same,” he admits. On the wall is a mural painted with the words “Great American Craft Beers.”

Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017 •

WATERING HOLE JCM

Tommy DeMaio Tommy’s responsible for updating the chalkboard, which features some 50 craft beers at any given time. Local breweries such as Departed Soles, New Jersey Beer Company, and Brix City are featured. If you’re not familiar with the craft offerings, helpful bartenders will steer you toward a beer that resembles a brand name that you’re familiar with. On Sundays, bottles go for as little as $3 or $4. And you can join the Pint Club for discounts all year long.

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“Miller Lite” is code for a beer that you would never see at Pint. A popular bar game is solving the puzzles tucked inside the bottle caps of Lone Star Beer. If you’re not a beer drinker, there’s a full bar, giant fishbowl cocktails, and a selection of summer cocktails. Though Pint boasts six TVs, note that there are no TVs in front of the bar. Management doesn’t want patrons staring dumbly at TV screens. It wants folks talking to each other and the bartenders, for that friendly, neighborly vibe that the bar gives off. “We want them to feel that this is their living room, but we don’t want them to feel they are by themselves,” Tommy says. They’ll tune those other TVs to classic movies, and of course the Super Bowl, “but mainly for the halftime show,” Tommy jokes. If popcorn isn’t going to do it for you, don’t worry, it’s BYOF. “We have no kitchen,” Tommy says, “but sometimes someone will bring home-cooked meals for the whole bar.” You can also bring in pizza or anything else that floats your boat. Pint will host your party, with giveaways, including free T-shirts, hats, and sweatshirts. It has a slew of happy hours, as well as Martini Mondays, and live trivia nights. At Christmas, in addition to holiday parties, Pint staff and customers buy gifts for hospitalized kids. And, get this, Pint is open on Christmas day. The restrooms are marked “Sit” and “Stand,” a fun reminder that Pint has a diverse clientele, though it’s often thought of as a gay guy’s bar. “Gay, straight, we aim to please,” Tommy says. “Boys, girls, everyone is welcome.” —Kate Rounds

O U T D I N I N G

HELEN’S PIZZA

183 Newark Avenue (201) 435-1507 helens-pizza.com Helen’s Pizza, a family owned restaurant, has been serving downtown Jersey City since 1968. Using only the finest ingredients they provide customers with the best

tasting pizza, dinners, sandwiches, salads, and now a wide selection of homemade desserts. They have earned their reputation for the best pizza in town. Come taste the difference at Helen’s Pizza. Open seven days: Mon. – Sat. 11 a.m.- 11 p.m. Sun. 3-11 p.m.

IBBY’S FALAFEL

303 Grove St. (201) 432-2400 ibbysfalafel.com One of downtown’s most popular eateries, Ibby’s Falafel has been serving Jersey City since 1996. The menu consists of original see page 72

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Middle Eastern cuisine made with authentic ingredients, along with new and innovative additions—the falafel that made falafel famous. Ibby’s offerings are one hundred percent halal-certified. Open seven days. Catering available.

KOMEGASHI

103 Montgomery Street (201) 433-4567 komegashi.com Located in Jersey City’s financial district, Komegashi offers fresh, well-presented sushi along with traditional Japanese favorites and an extensive selection of fresh shellfish. Locals and visitors from around the world find this a perfect spot to dine in casual elegance. Open seven days.

L'ATELIER DU CHOCOLAT, created by Master Chocolatier Eric Girerd, ȱ ¢ȱ ȱę ȱ handmade gourmet chocolates.

KOMEGASHI TOO Croissants Pastries Birthday Cakes and other Chocolate products 321 Marin Boulevard . Jersey City, NJ

201.332.9220

99 Town Square Place Newport Financial Center (201) 533-8888 komegashi.com Komegashi too offers an authentic Japanese dining experience with a spectacular view of the New York Skyline. The menu includes perfectly prepared sushi and sashimi, kaiseki, teriyaki, and tempura. Located on the river at Newport Financial Center, Komegashi too is open seven days.

LORADELLA’S FAMILY PIZZERIA

126 River Drive (201) 963-4900 Loradellasfamilypizzeria.com Loradella’s is a family owned and operated pizzeria offering delicious pizza by the slice, Italian comfort food, and great games all under the same roof. It’s the perfect place to enjoy a delicious Italian meal in our spacious dining room. Call in an order for delivery, take out, or host your child’s birthday party with a make-your-own-pizza activity and an arcade.

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RUSTIQUE PIZZA

611 Jersey Avenue (201) 222-6886 rustiquepizza.com Welcome to Rustique Pizza! The Rosiello family warmly invites you to wake up your taste buds with our delicious food in the casual, friendly atmosphere of our dining room. If you’d rather enjoy your meal at home, we offer free delivery or the option of picking up your entrées or pizza. Our bread, dough, and mozzarella are made fresh daily in-house, ensuring satisfaction each time you dine with us.

Talde is a casual, creative Asian American restaurant. Set in a bright modern atmosphere, serving inspirational fusion cuisine and craft cocktails.

Sunday - Monday 5pm-11pm . Friday & Saturday 5pm-12am . Brunch: Saturday & Sunday 11am-4pm

201.630.0077

www.taldejerseycity.com . taldejc misswongsjc 8 ERIE STREET . JERSEY CITY

PJ RYAN’S

292 Barrow Street 201-333-8752 www.pjryansjc.com Local Jersey City Craft Beer Bar and Gastropub. PJ Ryan’s is a corner tavern in the heart of downtown Jersey City, offering a cozy and inviting space, great craft beer, wine and liquor, and a menu that puts a modern twist on traditional Irish Pub fare. Come by for nightly drink specials, weekend brunch, and yearround sports action on eight big TVs.

PJ RYAN’S SQUARED

4 Path Plaza 201-222-1600 www.pjryansjc.com Jersey City’s Irish American Sports Bar, Grill and Live Music Club. PJ Ryan’s Squared is in Journal Square, the “Times Square” of Jersey City. It is the historical hub of culture and entertainment for Hudson County. One of the only serious live music venues in Jersey City with dancing, the intimate stage has as its backdrop the fast moving lights of John F. Kennedy Boulevard. The décor, 30 beers, 40 whiskeys and hearty menu reflect the charm of a pub from Ireland. Sport fans can catch the action from 23 big screens hanging throughout the venue. see page 74

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TALDE

8 Erie Street 201-630-0077 www.taldejerseycity.com Talde is a casual, creative Asian American restaurant. Set in a bright modern atmosphere, serving inspirational fusion cuisine and craft cocktails. Serving brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Open 7 days a week

TORICO

20 Erie Street (201) 432-9458 toricoicecream.com Torico Homemade Ice Cream is Jersey City’s destination for ice cream and desserts. While classic flavors are popular, Torico’s specialty is unique homemade flavors that reflect its founder’s love of the tropical tastes of Puerto Rico. Over the last 46 years, Torico has become a local institution. It also offers ice cream social packages, custom ice-cream cakes, pies, pints, and mini-scoop samplers to take home.

PJ Ryans Squared 4 PATH Plaza, Journal Square, JC 201-222-1600

W W W . P J R Y A N S J C . C O m

Pub Food & Drink

PJ Ryans Tavern

Live Music Club 74 • Jersey CITY Magazine ~ SPRING | SUMMER 2017

292 Barrow Street Downtown Jersey City 201-333-8752

Hardwood floors

Huge windows

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