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palisade • hoboken & beyond
FALL 2010
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CONTENTS
features 9 THE MYSTIQUE OF THE MEADOWLANDS Getting to the bottom of it
22 CHRISTINA’S STORY California convert
24 SPAR POWER Woman in the ring
departments 7 EDITOR’S LETTER
44 HOME ON THE HUDSON
48 Paula
46 DATES
50 Listings
8 CONTRIBUTORS 10 IN GEAR
DISH
The Mediterranean Mansion
Back to school and in the home
12 SPOTLIGHT ON Weehawken
14 FEELING GOOD Rx for teeth grinding
COVER 16 IN PERSON Personal trainer extraordinaire
20 CHILD’S PLAY Scooter mania
30 GREEN SCENE Weehawken parks
32 BACKYARD ADVENTURE Sussex County
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FALL 2010
palisade • hoboken & beyond
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palisade • hoboken & beyond
FALL 2010
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palisade
CONTENTS
home section
HOBOKEN
34 OUT OF THE BOX
&
BEYOND
PALISADE MAGAZINE CONNECTS COMMUNITIES: EDGEWATER, GUTTENBERG, HOBOKEN, JERSEY CITY, NORTH BERGEN, SECAUCUS, UNION CITY, WEEHAWKEN, AND WEST NEW YORK
GRO Architects goes cutting edge
INTERIOR DESIGNER TIPS
Volume 4 Issue 4 Fall 2010
36 ART AND ANTIQUES 37 WOOD FLOORS
“Hoboken & Beyond.” Our new tag line reflects the great look, attention-grabbing stories, and community spirit that you’ve come to expect from your favorite lifestyle magazine.
Publishers Lucha Malato, David Unger Editor in Chief Kate Rounds Art Director Jennifer Martiak Copyediting Christopher Zinsli Advertising Manager Tish Kraszyk Sales Staff Joseph Calderone, Toni Anne Calderone, Paul Cohen, C. Barbara Dillon, Ron Kraszyk, Christine M. Youngclaus
38 39 40 42
WALLPAPER FIREPLACES TILES FOYERS
Circulation Manager Roberto Lopez Circulation Luis Vasquez Accounting Christine Caraballo Palisade is a publication of The Hudson Reporter Assoc., L.P. 1400 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Submissions welcome, but please query first. Phone: 201.798.7800 Fax: 201.798.0018 Sales inquiries: palisade@hudson reporter.com E-mail: krounds@hudsonreporter.com www.palisademagazine.com Palisade Magazine is published by the Hudson Reporter Associates, L.P., 1400 Washington St., Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (201) 7987800, Fax (201) 798-0018. Subscriptions are $20 per year, overseas are $40 per year, single copies are $7.50 each, multiple copy discounts are available. VISA/MC/AMEX accepted. Subscription information should be sent to Palisade Subscriptions, 1400 Washington St., Hoboken, NJ 07030. Not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or other unsolicited materials. Copyright ©2010, Hudson Reporter Associates L.P. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.
COVER PHOTO BY ANTHONY SAINT JAMES
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FALL 2010
palisade • hoboken & beyond
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
PHOTO BY MARIE PAPP
We’ve Grown...
Home Work f you’ve been putting off fixing up your home, it could be that you’re having trouble coming up with new ideas. Well, let us lend you a hand. In this issue interior designers share their tips on antiques, original art, tiles, wallpaper, flooring, fireplaces, and more. Or maybe you want a new house altogether, in which case you might want to contact GRO Architects. Partners Nicole Robertson and Richard Garber live in Jersey City and are doing some cutting edge work in Hudson County. Meanwhile, Amanda Staab profiles a mother of four who is training to be a professional boxer, Joshua Lutz’s images plumb the mystique of the Meadowlands, and Diana Schwaeble sits down with Ary Nunez, a Jersey City resident who launched Gotham Global Fitness and trains many celebrity clients. It’s still great scooting weather, and Anne Marusic, mother of two little guys who love to scoot, tells all. Our Spotlight is on Weehawken this month. The township just celebrated its 150th anniversary and is still going strong. When the frost’s on the pumpkin, we’re on the case.—PM
I
The Dialysis Center at Hamilton Park HEALTH CARE CENTER — SUB-ACUTE CARE THE ATRIUM-ASSISTED LIVING — WELLNESS CENTER OUTPATIENT REHABILITATION — THE DIALYSIS CENTER Our newly expanded state of the art facilities have a bright and pleasant atmosphere. Our dedicated and compassionate staff pay specialized attention to each person’s individual needs. We conveniently offer short-term placement for dialysis patients receiving short term rehabilitation at Hamilton Park on site. We are a free standing community based center. Most major insurances accepted.
Available for In-Patient and Out-Patient Services Kate Rounds
Hamilton Park Oops! In the summer issue of Palisade we neglected to include one of our best photographers, Camilo Godoy, on the contributors page.
The Dialysis Center 328 NINTH ST., JERSEY CITY, NJ 07302 For more information or questions please call:
Admissions — (201) 716-7710 Director: Annabelle Perez — (201) 716-7700 Fax — (201) 716-7711
www.dialysis-hp.com palisade • hoboken & beyond FALL 2010
7
CONTRIBUTORS
PAUL J. KAIRIS
TERRI
TRICIA TERRIANN SAULINO BISH began her career as a graphic designer more than 15 years ago. She not only creates images but captures them with her camera. Her work has appeared in many publications including Best of Photography 2006, 2007 & 2009. She currently works for The Hudson Reporter. www.tbishphoto.com.
ROBERT
JOSHUA
ROBERT E. CALEM has covered technology and business for more than two decades. He was a founding editor of This Week In Consumer Electronics and holds a Master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University. He writes extensively about cars and lives in Hoboken. SUZANNE CUMMINGS owns Hobokenbased Quick Change Interiors, which offers interior decorating services ranging from one-day design makeovers to whole house renovations. (201) 653-8353.
SUZANNE
VANESSA
ANNE
ANTHONY
VANESSA DELEON is a graduate of Berkeley College for Interior Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology. She has appeared on HGTV’s Generation Renovation, Designer’s Challenge, Bang for Your Buck, and Design Star. She is founder of Vanessa DeLeon Associates, based in Edgewater. vanessadeleon.com LANA ROSE DIAZ is a staff writer for The Hudson Reporter. She graduated from Lehigh University with a BS in business and economics and completed graduate work in political science. A Jersey girl with a love for community development and nature, she is also a poet and spoken-word artist. DENIS FINNIN is director of the photography studio at the American Museum of Natural History. He has been with the museum for more than 20 years. The Liberty Science Center exhibit “Our Hudson Home” features Denis’s work.
DIANA
LANA
JOSHUA LUTZ is an artist and educator living and working in New York. Recent solo exhibitions include Robert Koch Gallery, San Francisco (2010); Clamp Art, New York (2008); Barbara Walters Gallery, Sarah Lawrence College (2008); Gitterman Gallery, New York (2005). In 2008 Lutz’s first monograph Meadowlands was published by Powerhouse Books. (joshualutz,com) ANNE MARUSIC is a freelance writer and publicist who has called the Jersey City waterfront home for the past four years. Look for her on the boardwalk chasing her sons , Nicholas and Alan. ANTHONY SAINT JAMES has worked with some of the biggest names in entertainment. His photographs have been published in magazines and ads all over the world. He is pictured here with his greatest creation, his son Cosmo. More of his photography can be seen at anthonysaint james.com. To inquire about a portrait sitting or headshot session at Anthony Saint James Studio, please call (917) 705-0303. DIANA SCHWAEBLE is an award-winning reporter and the former managing editor for the Hudson Reporter Newspaper Group. Her series of stories, “Home Sweet Hoboken,” won second place for feature writing in 2006 in the competitive New Jersey Press Association statewide contest. She is currently working on her first collection of short stories. PAUL J. SOMERVILLE is president of the fullservice interior design firm, Paul J. Somerville Design, Inc., based in Hoboken, where his roots go back five generations. In his 30-year career, he’s designed country clubs and restaurants and consulted on the restoration of Hoboken City Hall. pjsomerville.com
CHRISTINA FURTADO grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and lives in Hoboken. She graduated from San Francisco State University in 2003 with a BA in broadcast journalism and currently does PR in Manhattan for Dell, Inc. In her spare time she takes in the New York City skyline from her balcony with a fine glass of California Pinot Noir in her hand.
AMANDA STAAB is a recent graduate of Columbia University’s Journalism School. A New Jersey native, she currently lives in Hoboken with her husband.
PAUL J. KAIRIS is owner of HOM Personal Interiors and has lived in Hoboken for 23
TRICIA TIRELLA is a staff writer for The Hudson Reporter. She currently lives in Jersey City.
PAUL J. SOMERVILLE
DENIS
CHRISTINA
8
years. He designs home interior projects from “simple to spectacular.” He is a guest speaker at home, antique, and art shows has appeared on HGTV. and hominteriors.com
FALL 2010
AMANDA
JENNIFER
JENNIFER MERRICK MARTIAK is art director for the Hudson Reporter Newspapers, which includes Palisade and Jersey City Magazine. She has worked for the company for 15 years. Her work has won annual awards for the past ten years. Though her design credits are eclectic, fashion print is her passion.
palisade • hoboken & beyond
PHOTOS BY JOSHUA LUTZ
The Mystique of the Meadowlands The Meadowlands is a place to pass through and forget on the way to someplace else. Not unlike a neglected child, the Meadowlands has grown up without guidance, constantly unsure of what the future holds. It is this loneliness and solitude that continues to bring me back year after year. These disparate images tell different stories, like songs on an album that build upon each other. Each one may be about something specific, but more often than not, the specifics become less important than the feelings conveyed. —Joshua Lutz
palisade • hoboken & beyond
FALL 2010
9
IN GEAR
Fall Fancy BY ROBERT E. CALEM
F
rom living room to dorm room, these innovative and attractive devices are sure to keep you and your friends entertained this fall.
Easy Wireless New Wi-Fi routers make it easy to share your Internet connection with house guests or get your favorite movie in HD from the Web––and they look good, too! The new Cisco Valet ($100) and Valet Plus ($150) set up in just three easy steps, and their accompanying Cisco Connect software lets you simply create a separate guest network for sharing Web access without compromising your personal data. Robust parental controls regulate the day and hours any device can go online. Valet is for small to medium-sized homes with primarily wireless devices. Valet Plus is for medium to large-sized homes with a mix of wireless and wired devices. Belkin Play ($100) and Play Max ($130) are made for smoothly streaming audio and video simultaneously with Web surfing and data sharing, using separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz channel bands. The Play Max is specially tailored for streaming HD videos, playing games online, and downloading large media files. www.ciscovalet.com www.belkin.com
Slide and Share Record video of class lectures, parties, or other memorable events, then share it with friends using the new Flip Video SlideHD ($280) camcorder. Its 16GB of internal memory is enough to record up to four hours of high-definition video, and its three-inch-wide touch-sensitive display with built-in stereo speakers slides up to initiate a video playback mode, for viewing by an audience. The display is also used along with a touch-sensitive slide strip to navigate through stored videos. And in recording mode, the display functions as the camcorder’s controls. www.theflip.com
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FALL 2010
palisade • hoboken & beyond
IN GEAR
Time Tube Its design inspired by a flute, the Bang & Olufsen BeoTime ($375) alarm clock is a slim anodized and polished aluminum tube with three square displays that show present time, alarm time, and wake-up source: a chime, or any B&O TV or audio player. A fourth square in the middle of the tube is used for menu navigation, a trumpet-shaped button at one end clicks out and in to activate or deactivate the alarm, and a built-in motion sensor turns on the display and switches on its backlight— compensating for nighttime fumbling in the dark. www.bang-olufsen.com
Aluminum Anniversary For its 10th anniversary (traditionally celebrated with aluminum), premium sound system maker Tivoli Audio has introduced the Model 10 ($200) table radio––available with a variety of furniture-grade wood and high-gloss cabinets as well as in a Celebration Collection crafted in faux light or dark aluminum. It features a digital tuner, an adjustable equalizer, and a digital clock with two independent alarms. It is also expandable with an optional matching stereo speaker, and inputs and outputs for a CD player, iPhone, iPod, or other MP3 player, headphone, and subwoofer. www.tivoliaudio.com
palisade • hoboken & beyond
FALL 2010
11
SPOTLIGHT ON
Weehawken
PHOTO BY DENIS FINNIN
T
his split-level town sits high on the cliffs and low on the water. It has a long and storied past, stately mansions, diverse communities, and modern amenities.
IN MARCH 2009, WEEHAWKEN KICKED OFF A YEARlong celebration of its 150th anniversary. Scores of events from historic tours and exhibits to parades, parties, festivals, and food fests marked the township’s historic roots and ongoing contributions to business, culture, and community. “Government, volunteers, and every civic group that makes this township a great place to live got involved,” said Mayor Richard F. Turner. Township officials worked with The Hudson Reporter to create the Weehawken Journal, which chronicles the town’s 150-year history. “It was a spectacular summary of the entire year’s events,” the mayor said. Turner, who has served as mayor since 1990, cites the many attractions of this town on the Hudson, including its value as a transportation hub: “It’s the home of the Lincoln Tunnel, the New York Waterway ferry, and one of the largest light rail stations.” Its location is also a plus. “In the middle of the New York metropolitan area, it’s a small community of 14,000 people,” he said. Another Weehawken draw is its distinctive real estate. Barbara Tulko of Remax Villa has been in the business for 26 years. “Each home in Weehawken is unique unto itself,” she says. “There aren’t two houses the same; that makes it special. And now young people are buying homes and bringing them back to their glory.” 12
FALL 2010
The bluffs are also an incredible attraction. “Step outside the door and see a beautiful view,” she says. “When developers wanted to block the view, people had an uprising and that will never be allowed to happen.” Tulko cites a litany of Weehawken benefits: “There’s room to breathe, the traffic’s not bad, so kids can play on side streets, it’s quiet, the schools are highly rated, and the police are responsive to the slightest thing.” Tulko, who was born in Jersey City, knew even when she was a kid and visited Weehawken that she wanted to live there. “There’s something special about Weehawken,” she says. “Once you get here it’s hard to leave.” She’s been in the township for 35 years. WEEHAWKEN IS WELL-KNOWN WAY OUTSIDE THE borders of Hudson County. Any kid who has ever read a United States history book knows about the famous duel between Vice President Aaron Burr and Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, which took place on the Weehawken bluffs on July 11, 1804, with the mortally wounded Hamilton laying his head on a rock to die. In 2004, the 200th anniversary of the event, the duel was reenacted. But Weehawken history reaches even further back. Henry Hudson reportedly anchored in Weehawken cove, which is now the area between Hoboken and Weehawken. The township has moved steadily into the 21st century, changing with the times yet preserving its renowned landmarks and unique history. “We have a wonderful variety of people,” Turner said. “Residents on the waterfront and on the upland are
palisade • hoboken & beyond
SPOTLIGHT ON
Weehawken separated by 180 feet of cliff, but they go to school together, work together, and play together.” Playing together has been made easier by the township’s commitment to the green movement. “I’m proud that we’ve more than doubled open space in the last three years with parks and playgrounds,” Turner said. “One of the problems with old industrial areas—we were incorporated in 1859—is very little open space. We now have a ten-acre recreation complex, a waterfront walkway, promenade on Boulevard East, and several small pocket parks throughout town. We went from 12 acres of open space to approaching 30.” Said Turner: “We pride ourselves on our small-town atmosphere, with civic and community groups that work together on various projects. It’s a very vibrant community.”—Kate Rounds
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Lincoln Harbor Yacht Club 1500 Harbor Boulevard Weehawken, NJ 07086 Ph.201.319.5100 Fax 201.319.5111 Visit our website : www.lincolnharbormarina.com
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• Professional staff to assist with docking 24 hours a day • Crew-friendly marina • Excellent security, including TV monitoring • Cable television available • Conference room and business services • Mini work-out center • Yacht detailing and mechanic services available • Winter storage • Access to Hudson River Walkway • Tennis courts and running track nearby
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palisade • hoboken & beyond
FALL 2010
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FEELING GOOD
Stress — The Daily Grind YOUR TEETH COULD BE T H E B I G G E S T C A S U A LT Y OF A HIGH-STRESS LIFESTYLE.
n the HBO series Six Feet Under, David, the character played by Peter C. Hall, decides to keep his night guard at his partner’s house, which is considered a sign of their commitment. For the record, a night guard is a device designed to protect teeth from the harmful effects of grinding. In the Bible the term “gnashing of teeth” is taken to mean the grinding of teeth due to anguish or frustration. The biggest cause of teeth grinding in the modern world? Stress. Dr. Matthew Messina, a consumer adviser for the American Dental Association, told the New York Times that 10 to 15 percent of adult Americans suffer from the condition. You know that teeth grinding has gone mainstream when TV darling Dr. Oz devotes an episode to it. Dentists in our area are on the case. Dr. Marshall Baines, who shares a Jersey City practice with his father Bruce and brother Keith, says, “A father of two whose wife is a stay-at-home mom came in complaining of pain. He lost his job in the financial industry, is upside-down on his house, and is about to lose his medical and dental benefits. All that is contributing to his teeth grinding.” Dr. Nancy Hanna, whose office is in the Journal Square section of Jersey City, says patients come in complaining of pain or muscle discomfort, and sometimes their teeth even fracture. “The patient will sometimes be moving their jaw back and forth right in front of you for no reason,” she says. “They wake up in the middle of the night with jaw pain, headaches, or earaches.” A dentist can take an impression of your teeth and have a night guard custom made. Though you can buy them at the pharmacy, most dentists advise that custom-made guards fit better and are more comfortable. Because grinding can be psychological, treatments such as hypnosis have been prescribed. “I like the idea,” Hanna says. “There are no side effects, and it’s been shown to work for people to stop smoking. Even yoga sessions give relief when it comes to muscle pain in general.” In the meantime, she advises, “Make time for relaxation and physical activity. Few people need a shrink.”
I
ECONOMICS MAY BE AN ISSUE IN DECIDING TO GET a night guard. They’re not always fully covered by insurance, and they often cost between $350 and $1,000. Dr. Russell Sandman, a Hoboken orthodontist, says, “I encourage patients who are 14
FALL 2010
unsure to go the CVS route first and if that doesn’t benefit them, pursue a night guard with a dentist.” Dr. Monica Bolds, who has a Union City practice, notes that another sign of the condition is if the “teeth have a flattened appearance and start to look blunted and all on one level.” One of the worst consequences of teeth grinding, she says, is periodontal disease, which is inflammation of the tissues around the bones that support the teeth. She stresses the importance of night guards fitting properly. “You don’t want it to get dislodged in your sleep,” she says. “You could aspirate it or choke on it.” Bolds says that when she sees signs of teeth grinding, “I query the patient, what’s going on, what’s changed? After you let them get it off their chest, they’re a lot easier to treat, not as tense and anxious.” Dr. Bolds’ last words? “Prevention, prevention, prevention. Make sure you get your six months’ checkup and cleaning to treat problems before they get worse.” Says Baines: “I’m making a ton of night guards. People are severely stressed.” Bottom line? Chill out.—Kate Rounds
palisade • hoboken & beyond
RESOURCES Dr. Monica Bolds 1808 Kennedy Blvd. Union City (201) 867-3947 drmbolds.com Dr. Nancy Hanna 26 Journal Square, Suite 800 Jersey City (201) 433-0773 (201) 795-3119 drnancyhanna.com Dr. John C. Minichetti 370 Grand Ave., Suite 200 Englewood (201) 871-3555 englewooddental.com Dr. Simon Roytberg Park Avenue Dental Group 3508 Park Ave. Weehawken (201) 864-4730 parkavenuedentalgroup.com Dr. Russell Sandman Dr. Peter Feibish Hoboken Orthodontics 726 Washington St. Hoboken (201) 792-7666 hobokenortho.com
Trusted Dental Care in One Convenient Location! State-of-the-Art, Multi-Specialty Practice Gentle, Private-Practice Dentists • Emergencies Welcome Your Insurance is Welcome & Accepted!
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(201) 864-4730 Convenient Appointments Before & After Work or School Visit us online at
palisade • hoboken & beyond
www.ParkAveDentalGroup.com FALL 2010
15
IN PERSON
ARY NUNEZ, CENTER
Questions for trainer Ary Nunez BY DIANA SCHWAEBLE PHOTO BY ANTHONY SAINT JAMES STYLIST: SONIA CANTORE
elebrity personal trainer Ary Nunez believes that a person’s strength comes from the inside. The feisty and spirited brunette says “don’t judge me, you don’t know what kind of strength I have.” Indeed, it would be hard to measure the strength that comes from decades of training in martial arts. Nunez has black belts in karate, Tae Kwan Do, and Kung Fu and is also a professional dancer. Born in Brooklyn, raised in Manhattan, and now living in Jersey City, Nunez strives to create balance in her life and the lives of her clients. As owner and founder of Gotham Global Fitness, Nunez paved her own way and attracted a celebrity client list that reads like a who’s who in the music and TV industry. It includes pop star Rihanna, Kat de Luna, American Idol’s Jared Cotter, David Tutera from My Fair Wedding, and Fuse TV’s Steven Smith—to name a few. Whether teaching a class or training one-on-one,
C
16
FALL 2010
Nunez works from the inside out—helping clients achieve fitness goals and inner peace.
Have you always been physically active? I started martial arts at the age of 5 and I’ve been doing it ever since. I had my first black belt at the age of 10. I just did it and it became a habit. Some people go to foreign countries and they eat the food. I study the martial art.
What prompted your training at such an early age? My father said to me when I was a kid, “you choose.” Growing up in Brooklyn as first-generation immigrants is tough. My dad just really wanted to give me something. It was a gift, his source
palisade • hoboken & beyond
IN PERSON
of strength. It’s the sort of thing someone can’t take away from me. You don’t know how strong I am. We’re all afraid. We’re all insecure. But I’m really not afraid. The worst thing that can happen is that I fall. I may embarrass myself. But I get back up again.
Is it different training celebrities?
came in with a list of goals. Jared talked about it on Fuse. I will get hired by a record company and they will say, “This is your job. Can you do this?” Yeah, I can do this. They become like my kids.
It sounds like you really love your job. Do all your clients bring you joy?
I see all my clients as rock stars! Superstars! Celebrities have more urgent needs because they are developing a product. They are a product. Their fame can expire tomorrow, so you want to be hot all the time. But the ultimate goal is to feel fit in your own body. Fit is happy. Let me tell you something, if you are fit and happy, you are hot.
One of my clients, his mother came up to me and said, “Thank you. I can’t tell you how grateful I am because my son is so happy now. He is so strong and so healthy now.” For his mom to say that to me meant more than anything.
You’ve gotten a lot of attention for training Rihanna. What is she like?
We noticed each other. It happens through the hub of networking and word of mouth. To me that is the strongest way anything happens. We love each other and I take care of them. There was this one guy and let me tell you, I’m in love with who he is. And when we train, I’m laughing. And I said, you have to stop it, because you aren’t letting me do my job. At the time he was working on Fuse. Then I met Steven Smith, who’s one of the funniest people on the planet. Steven comes in and says, “I’m OK with how I am but they want me to change” kind of thing. We’re friends now.
I love Ri! She is such an amazing, hard-working, incredible person and artist. I truly believe God took his time with this one! Working with Ri is doing God’s work! I’m doing God’s work and adding to that beauty!
Do your celebrity clients have more specific needs than others? This guy [Steven Smith] came in who was working on Fuse. At the time I was training an American Idol guy Jared [Cotter]. He
palisade • hoboken & beyond
How did other celebrities hear about you?
FALL 2010
17
IN PERSON
Do you have a favorite martial art?
Have you ever done yoga?
Kung Fu, and the reason is the hard and soft elements. It is also a hidden art because it is the art of the empty hand. If someone is coming at you with a fist, I know what they are doing. But if their hand is open, you have no idea what they are going to do. That is what I love about Kung Fu.
Yes. Martial arts is my core, but I try to fuse Western and Eastern training methods. I think it is a universal platform, the way we communicate without words. Since I was five, I started both martial arts and dance. Dance just gives me this joy, this performance. We all want to perform in life and I think that dance gives me that platform.
How often do you work out every week?
What prompted you to start your own business?
I work out as much as time, energy, and spirit allows. To some people working out is getting on the treadmill or taking a run. To me, working out could be meditative. Working out for me is spending time with my body, connecting with it. I can run for an hour and then cycle for an hour and then strength train for another hour. Yeah sure I can do that. Or I can meditate for an hour.
I was working at this cruise line and they were relocating to Miami. They gave me the choice of a severance package or to move. I took the severance package and I thought, what do I want to do when I grow up? It happened organically. I established my business in 1998. I registered my company which is Gotham Global Fitness. Growing up I was always the Robin Hood. I’m still of that rebel nature. If something is not fair, it is your responsibility to fix it.
How does your sense of fairness translate into training? Fair is fair. I think it is just something that you feel. Maybe I feel it more than others. How does that translate into training? When I meet someone, I really want us to vibe, because it is a vulnerable place. Here you are saying, “I cannot,” and that is why you are here. I treat everyone equally. I train celebrities or someone that I choose to give my time to. We’re both coming in because we want to evolve, to be better than before.
What is your favorite part of the job? Falling in love with people. My heart is entertained by how interesting we are. I am still surprised and humbled and forever a student. My philosophy is to train from the interior to the exterior. I like to measure success by the things you cannot see. —PM
All Saints students have an appreciation for the diversity and cultural wonder of urban life
small School
BIG Mission
Early Childhood, Ages 3 - 4 Q Elementary Grades K - 4 Middle School, Grades 5 -8 At All Saints we inspire… Q
The discipline and integrity to be successful in school and in life
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An appreciation for the diversity and cultural wonder of urban life
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A responsibility for this planet and gratitude for its beauty
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A developed sense of one’s own spirituality through social action and service
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A sincere love of learning
707 Washington St. Hoboken, NJ 07030
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201.792.0736
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allsaintsdayschool.org
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C H I L D ' S P L AY
PHOTO BY KATE ROUNDS
Alan Marusic scoots through Lincoln Park.
BY ANNE MARUSIC
scooter is one of the most important purchases in a Jersey City kid’s life. Not only do scooters provide a method of quick transportation, they allow kids to gracefully glide around, entertaining themselves for hours. Scooters are a lot less expensive than bikes and take up less space in an urban apartment. Another plus: they can be folded up and tucked into the PATH and subway quite easily. Scooters can also be used in a garage or indoors if you have an apartment with open space. In short, scooting is the perfect urban pastime. Scooting can be enjoyed almost all year round; just watch out for ice and snow. In these parts, two- or three-year-olds usually start on a three-wheel model (one wheel in front, two in back for balance) and then graduate to a Razor kick-scooter, an inexpensive ($25) purchase that will last for many years. The scooter can be adjusted to fit a growing child. High-performance kick scooters, such as the Maxi, have two Italian-crafted wheels in front, providing kids the feeling of surfing on the sidewalk, but they can set you back $150.
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THE FIRST KICK (FOOT POWERED) SCOOTERS WERE created more than 100 years ago by taking roller skate wheels and attaching them to a plank. A two-by-four was used for the base and another was split and made into handlebars. It was crude but got the rider from point A to point B. As other methods of transportation such as the bicycle and skateboard became more popular, the scooter flew under the radar. But in the 1990s, the kick scooter made a roaring comeback with the all-weather aluminum (No rust! No rot!) version by Razor. Since then there’s been a scooter revolution with innovations in style and stability. Razor has manufactured many colors and types, including motorized versions for commuters and also a three-wheeled version that allows both feet on the board, increasing balance and control. Along with the kick scooter’s comeback, electric, gas, and motor scooters have increased in popularity as people seek cheap transportation to work, to school, or just to run errands. These new versions are simple to handle, fit in compact spaces, zip
palisade • hoboken & beyond
C H I L D ' S P L AY around traffic jams, and can be parked just about anywhere. TAKE ALEX FROM JERSEY CITY. This dad of one purchased his first electric scooter eight years ago and considers it “an essential navigation aid for the urban landscape.� He rides a 200 watt Razor to work in Hoboken (along the scenic waterfront walkway) and zooms around with his son on a 600 watt scooter. His son rides a Go-Ped “Grow-Ped,� which has a handbrake, essential for any developing speed demon, and Alex’s wife has a similar adult model. On the next crisp fall day, take your budding scooter kid to just about any Hudson County park and let them ogle the cool teens who are doing tricks and jumps. By the way, you can do the same tricks on a kick scooter as on a traditional skateboard, but you may not want to mention that to your kid. Helmet required.—PM
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PHOTO COURTESY OF NEW JERSEY TRANSIT
Christina’s Story A BRIDGE AND TUNNEL CONVERT BY CHRISTINA FURTADO
was born and raised your typical California girl in the San Francisco Bay Area. My love affair with the Big Apple began the moment my parents introduced me to the wonders of cable television. I had a knack for media and it was clear there was no better place to practice my craft. About two years ago I finally made my pilgrimage out east, but as this Californian explores the enormity that is New York City, I admit there is one wrinkle in the equation— I live in Hoboken, N.J.—birthplace of Sinatra
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and baseball. And while the city is within spitting distance and I spend at least 45 hours a week working there, Manhattan will never really be a place I can call my own. Instead, I’m grouped in with the bridge and tunnel crowd, dubbed a sewer rat by my own favorite TV show, How I Met Your Mother, and I am the butt of one joke after another when introducing myself to strangers at posh city bars. When I first came to the decision to move east, I’ll admit, Hoboken wasn’t at the top of my list. It wasn’t like I suddenly woke up one day and said to myself, “I want to live in New Jersey.” But as long as I had been dreaming about moving to New York, I knew finding a cozy place to call my own and weathering the inevitable waves of home sickness was equally important. So when my only good friend east of California let me spend a week with her in Hoboken, I jumped at the opportunity to preview my life on the opposite coast. I distinctly remember the moment I emerged from the PATH on a gorgeous spring day—the view of Manhattan from Frank Sinatra Park was breathtaking. As I looked around at the locals casually enjoying their wine and martinis at the many waterfront bars, I couldn’t help but picture myself in their place. By the end of the week it occurred to me Hoboken was the perfect entry point to the big city. A cozy neighborhood where I could escape the hustle and bustle of New York to take in a nice, long, deep breath and enjoy the view. About four times a year I find myself back in California visiting with family and friends, and though I try my best to describe the friends that feel more like sisters, the walks around my neighborhood that feed my soul more than any night out at the bar ever could, or the view that continues to take my breath away— they’ll never really understand. I’ll admit, defending Hoboken as New York City’s sixth borough can be exhausting, and the “Jersey Girl” label with all its negative connotations still leaves a sour taste in my mouth. But the longer I live here, the more I realize, Hoboken is the only spot where this California girl can let loose, the real me shining through and through. If that’s what being part of the bridge and tunnel crowd is like, there’s no other place I’d rather be.—PM .* , ) # 6(
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Spar Power A HOBOKEN MOTHER OF FOUR DREAMS OF A LIFE IN THE RING. BY AMANDA STAAB PHOTOS BY ANTHONY SAINT JAMES
onnie Viruet stands at her kitchen counter halving the ham and cheese sandwiches she’s made for dinner. She’s 32, nursing student by day, masseuse on weekends, single mother of four, and a regular at the Union City Boxing Club, where she’s chasing a dream she’s had since high school—to turn pro. She’s 5-foot-8 and 137 pounds of no nonsense, and just five years ago, she had the words “pretty tough girlie” tattooed around boxing gloves inside a heart between her shoulder blades. She wears her curly auburn hair pulled back tight in a ponytail, and her eyes are a shade of brown that perfectly complements her milky skin. She is soft and hard, maternal and fierce, nurturing and determined. Even while she pours Hawaiian Punch in four small plastic cups for her kids, you can see her carefully controlled rage threatening to boil over—an asset in the ring, but possibly the result of having to do it all on her own, balancing family, career, and a lifetime aspiration.
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HER LAST MATCH WAS IN MAY 2000 AT THE 67TH Annual New Jersey Diamond Gloves in Linden, N.J. Viruet outshone boxers of both genders and took home the Fighter of the Night award. “There was only one trophy given the whole tournament,” her current coach, Joe Botti, relates. “She got it.” The win made Viruet want to move on to pro boxing. When her coach at the time tried to convince her to stay an amateur a bit longer, Viruet switched gyms and started training in Jersey City at the Rocky Marciano Gym, now the World Boxing and Fitness Center, on Division Street. Her new coaches found her the pro fight she asked for in no time, but with very few females to fight in the area, she’d have to go to Panama. Though Viruet had never done much traveling, the distance didn’t faze her. She was ecstatic. AS THE DATE FOR THE FIGHT DREW CLOSER, Viruet had a few last-minute errands to take care of before boarding the plane. She visited her doctor for the required physical, and as she waited alone in the examination room, a nurse knocked on the door, entered, and delivered the news: Viruet was pregnant. Though perfectly healthy, she would not be able to box. Having recently lost a few pounds getting into fighting form, Viruet hadn’t had any idea. The father suggested—because she was only two weeks along—that she get an abortion, but an abortion, she says, was not the right decision for her. Viruet was just beginning and she figured that later, she’d be able to get back in the ring. WHEN SHE WAS 15, VIRUET, WHO USED TO HIDE her skinniness under baggy overalls and her father’s shirts, tried
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Viruet didn’t care if the other trainees paid attention to her, but she didn’t want the girls from downtown to find out what she was doing. The “project girls,” as she calls them, often called her names and sometimes even followed her home for the opportunity to push her to the ground and kick her when no one was looking. Viruet worried the confrontations might get worse or more frequent. “I was always jumped and teased and picked on because I was this white girl,” she says. She guesses the black and Hispanic girls who tormented her couldn’t see her own mixed roots. Her mother is Puerto Rican and, at the time, could hardly speak English, and her father is an Italian from the Bronx, but Viruet’s light skin made her just different enough. “That’s how Hoboken was,” she says. “Hoboken was horrible.” For a long time, Viruet had managed to resist fighting back, but when a new girl at school started spreading rumors that she was going to steal Connie’s boyfriend, she snapped. Viruet called the girl to her locker, and as their classmates made room in the hallway, the girls began a shoving match that moved to the floor and ended when Viruet dealt a blow so hard it split open her opponent’s eyebrow, sending the girl to the hospital for more than a dozen stitches. “I don’t look for trouble,” says Viruet, who admits she shouldn’t have done what she did. “I don’t like trouble.” WITH A QUICK JAB AND A STRONG CHIN, VIRUET became known as a powerhouse in the local boxing arena. For each one of the eight amateur fights she had from age 17 to 21, Viruet won a trophy as well as awards for style and stamina. But in the past 10 years, she’s had two failed relationships that left her responsible for three more children. She’s struggling to make it on her own, and though her kids sometimes go to the gym with her, not always being able to find a babysitter has made it tough to train.
on her first pair of boxing gloves at a testosterone-charged gym in the musty attic of an old warehouse on Bergenline Avenue. It was 1993, the same year that USA Boxing, the non-profit that regulates amateur boxing nationwide, finally admitted women. As a sophomore at Hoboken High School, Viruet got hooked on the idea when one of the school’s security guards showed a group of students photos of fighters at the local gym. Taking notice of her enthusiasm, the guard offered to bring her along with him and his regular crew of male students to train twice a week. At the club, Viruet soon realized that breaking into the male-dominated sport wasn’t going to be easy. The men had “dirty mouths” and had already chased away several women who had come to train. “I stuck around because I wanted to be a fighter,” she says. 26
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Her mother, who also lives in Hoboken, refuses to watch the kids if Viruet is boxing. “She thinks I am going to wind up like Muhammad Ali,” says Viruet. NOW, AS MUCH AS SHE CAN, VIRUET CONTINUES TO break in her gloves, master the bob and weave, and spar with men three times her girth.
palisade • hoboken & beyond
“Boxing never left my head,” she says. “I think about it, and I don’t want to live life wondering what if … and I don’t want the kids being part of my excuse.” Her coach has been training only the most dedicated fighters at the Union City club for 20 years. He doesn’t charge Viruet for the gym and drives her home after her workouts. “Whatever I can do to help her fulfill her dream, I’ll do it,” says Botti. With a smirk he says he didn’t mean to create the club when he told two men fighting in the street to take it somewhere else, but that’s how it happened. Together, the three of them ended up in the basement of Botti’s apartment building and the club grew from there. When the makeshift gym was discovered, Botti managed to convince a few local officials to help him move it to an old New Jersey Transit building in town, and Botti claims his was the first gym in New Jersey to permit women. The Union City Boxing Club now has two floors and about 70 regulars with nicknames like Tsunami, Marshmallow, and Ceboya, Spanish for onion. VIRUET MAY JUST BE “CONNIE” AT the gym, but Botti says she still stands out from other women in the sport. “She can take a very good punch,” he says. Though she is quite a bit older now than when she started, she says she is “stronger and wiser” than ever before. Viruet also knows the consequences, that boxing could mean serious injury, but it’s her outlet, the way she finds balance. When her kids ask her about boxing, she tells them it’s just like any other sport and that whatever happens in the ring is just for the ring and not outside the ropes. “I told my kids not to hit back if somebody hits them,” she says. “You tell your teacher or another adult.” Though Viruet is just as strict about manners as she is about academics, she sometimes has to ask her kids to power through their homework on their own. Her oldest, Dominick, was very proud to show her a 100 percent he’d gotten on a reading test. “I would like to inspire them,” she says. “If you like something, if you want something, keep going.” Viruet is determined to have it all, and she is not backing down. Only one more obstacle stands in her way. Her promoter has yet to find the right venue for the fight. That’s no easy task in a weakened economy, when costs are high and the industry’s fan base continues to diminish. But once that bell sounds, Viruet will finally be a pro. In the ring and in life, Viruet will have to come out swinging.—PM
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Specializing in Advanced Laparoscopy, specifically in Lap-Band, Realize Band, Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass and Sleeve Gastrectomy for weight loss, Dr. Stefanie Vaimakis was amazed at the difference such surgery can make in a person’s life. “Bariatric surgery is a life changing event that must be done with caring, patience and thorough attention to each patient’s needs, not just physically but socially, professionally and emotionally as well,” stated Vaimakis. “Unlike any other form of surgery, it allows me to have a lifelong relationship with my patient. It gives me the opportunity to really make a difference in someone’s life. That’s why I have dedicated myself to this field.”
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GREEN SCENE
PHOTO BY DENIS FINNIN
Double Your Pleasure BY LANA ROSE DIAZ
eehawken’s open space has doubled over the past few years, making it easier and easier for residents to find a space to relax and “go green.” “We originally had 12 acres of open space,” says Weehawken Mayor Richard F. Turner. “We’ve added 18 acres and have more than doubled the amount of open space in the town. It’s a tremendous accomplishment.” In addition to the famed Hamilton Park along Boulevard East, the reading park on Palisade Avenue in the Heights, and a bevy of passive parks and playgrounds scattered throughout the township, a new waterfront park opened this summer. Pershing Park, a major link in the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway, is three-quarters of an acre that includes benches, a lawn sitting area, and a fountain. As Weehawken turns increasingly green, residents can look forward to two more parks scheduled to open over the next year, including one at 19th Street and another to be built on a portion of the American Legion property on Boulevard East. Turner says most of the parks were added as a condition of the development that takes place in the township. “One of the biggest things government can do is make open space for no cost to the residents,” he says. Aside from developer contributions, two other factors have helped double Weehawken’s open space: state Green Acres funding and the overall influence of the “green WATERFRONT PARK AND RECREATION COMPLEX movement.”—PM
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PHOTO COURTESY OF TOWNSHIP OF WEEHAWKEN
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HOBOKEN & BEYOND
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Palisade Hoboken & Beyond, offers an exciting, full color view of life in the communities along the Hudson. Palisade targets the area’s most discerning readers. Reaching out to both new and established residents, covering the cultural affairs, natural beauty and boutique shopping our readers crave — right in their own backyard. The Palisade audience lives at prestigious addresses on or near the waterfront in lower Bergen and Hudson Counties. For information about advertising in this section of Palisade, please call 201.798.7800 palisade@hudsonreporter.com
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B A C K YA R D A D V E N T U R E
PHOTOS BY TRICIA TIRELLA
Lake Lovers’ Dream SUSSEX COUNTY OFFERS HISTORY, NATURAL SPLENDOR,AND GREAT LEAF PEEPING BY TRICIA TIRELLA
he heart of Sussex County is Lake Hopatcong, which first became a popular destination in the 1800s. But eons before that, glaciers carved out its distinctive shoreline, testament to nature’s enduring power. Twelve thousand years ago, the Lenne Lenape made their home along the banks of this spring-fed lake, but most had died or been forced out before the American Revolution. In the 1800s Americans first began transporting cargo, mostly Pennsylvania coal and New Jersey iron, through the Morris Canal, which heavily relied on the lake, the largest body of water in New Jersey. Dredging for the canal made the lake 12 feet deeper and altered the landscape. The railroads which at first transported cargo to Jersey City and the metropolitan area began to take vacation goers to resorts built on the lake from the 1880s through the 1930s, until the advent of the car allowed people to travel to even farther reaches of the United States. As with the Jersey shore, Lake Hopatcong was a vacation destination for those wanting relief from the city and still is an ideal respite for urban dwellers, not just in summer but also in fall when the foliage alone is worth the trip. Lake Hopatcong spans 45 miles of coastline and encompasses four townships in two counties.
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“I would say the greatest attraction of Lake Hopatcong is its natural beauty,” says Alex Hersonski, a former resident and recent visitor to Lake Hopatcong State Park. The park, located at the southwest end of the lake, offers swimming, hiking, fishing, and a boat launch. On site is the Lake Hopatcong Historical Museum, housed in what once was the lock tender’s house on the Morris Canal. Lee’s County Park Marina is the only other public beach located along the lake, also offering a boat launch. Hersonski says there are numerous ways to enjoy the lake’s splendor, including visiting two islands where people often dock their boats and swim. Boaters are welcomed. Sunday mornings feature sailboat regattas, and many marinas rent patio boats, locally known as “party barges.” Water skiing is a popular activity, especially in early morning when the lake is as smooth as glass. Lakeview Marina offers group waterskiing and wakeboarding lessons to both the novice and expert. Several restaurants along the lake include the Windlass Restaurant and the Pavinci Italian Grille, both local favorites. Surrounding attractions celebrate nature as well as the area’s historic roots. Space Farms Zoo and Museum is New Jersey’s largest combined zoo and museum, established in 1927 by Ralph and Elizabeth Space on 100 acres in Sussex County.
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B A C K YA R D A D V E N T U R E Space Farms is home to more than 500 animals, reportedly the largest private collection of North American animals in natural surroundings. The zoo is internationally known for its lion and bear population. Siren, a recently born African Atlas lioness cub, is a must see addition. The museum’s collection includes 50 antique cars, early American dolls, Native American artifacts, and what’s believed to be the largest privately owned collection of antique firearms in the United States. The Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg offers a glimpse into the area’s mining past. The Zobel Exhibit Hall houses 20,000 mining items, including local fluorescent minerals, as well as a 1,300-foot underground walking tour into a section of the mine dating from the 1830s. Wild West City is marking its 53rd year in Netcong. The theme park celebrates western heritage through a “frontier town” and 22 live action shows every day. The park has a miniature train, stagecoach, and pony rides. A traditional summer diversion is the Sussex County Fair, where visitors can enjoy demolition derbies, Native American festivals, fireworks, and even lawnmower racing for inveterate grass cutters. Looking for a change of scenery close to home? Sussex County’s outdoor sports, nature, history, attractions, and events will fit the bill —PM
RESOURCES DIRECTIONS To reach Lake Hopatcong State Park, a good starting point to the area, take exit 28 from Route 80 West or hop on a NJ Transit train from Hoboken to the Lake Hopatcong stop in Landing, NJ, an approximate 90-minute train ride. For more information, visit www.NJTransit.com. Franklin Mineral Museum (973) 827-3481 franklinmineralmuseum.com Lake Hopatcong State Park (973) 398-7010 Lakeview Marina (973) 663-2935 lakeviewmarina.com Land of Make Believe (908) 459-9000 lomb.com Morris Museum (973) 971-3700 morrismuseum.org Museum of Early Trades and Crafts (973) 377-2982 rosenet.org/metc The Northlandz Reportedly the largest miniature railway in the world (908) 782-4022
northlandz.com Pavinci Italian Grill (973) 770-4300 pavinci.com Space Farms Zoo and Museum (973) 875-5800 spacefarms.com Sterling Hill Mining Museum (973) 209-7212 sterlinghillminingmuseum.org Sussex County Fairgrounds (973) 948-5500 newjerseystatefair.org Tomahawk Lake (973) 398-7777 tomahawklake.com Wild West City (973) 347-8900 wildwestcity.com Windlass Restaurant and Marina (973) 663-3190 windlass.com
PHOTOS COURTESY OF STERLING HILL MINING MUSEUM CUB PHOTO COURTESY OF B. JENKINS LION PHOTO COURTESY OF K. TALASCO
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HOMES
MINERVA STREET PHOTO BY FABIAN BIRGFELD, PHOTOTECTONICS
HOBOKEN & BEYOND
Cutting Edge and Out of the Box INNOVATIVE AND HIGH-TECH, GRO ARCHITECTS FINDS THE RIGHT BALANCE BETWEEN OLD AND NEW A gorgeous hulk, it sits stolidly in the middle of the Newport section of Jersey City, its old bricks, towering smokestacks, and boarded up windows just begging for a makeover. Seems like everyone has an opinion on what should be done with the powerhouse, one of the town’s most recognizable landmarks and an architectural dreamscape. The partners of GRO Architects who live in Jersey City have their own ideas. Nicole Robertson and Richard Garber, partners in work and in life, see it as a great opportunity. “The re-stabilization effort is a good sign,” says Robertson. “It’s great to see interest in preserving it.” Both partners teach architecture and have used the powerhouse as a studio project. “We pose it to the students and ask them to think about it,” Garber says. Garber and Robertson point to the Tate Modern in London as a model. “It’s a contemporary art museum in an old turbine factory that allows for display of huge pieces of art,” says Robertson. “The interior of the powerhouse is so wide open, we envision it as a cultural institution.” Says Garber, “It’s five or six stories with ornate wrought iron construction, and inside the masonry shell there’s light and air. With the triple-high space, it would be fairly easy to come up with a contemporary design. There’s some speculation that it would be used for entertainment.”
DOCKING STATION, RENDERING COURTESY OF GRO ARCHITECTS
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The worst use for it would be a “hokey entertainment complex or mall,” says Robertson. She envisions something that she says is missing in downtown Jersey City: “A fantastic cultural center. I see the art museum moving to the powerhouse. The powerhouse could be repurposed to be an institution with cultural impact.” Architecture critic Paul Goldberger, writing in the New Yorker in August 2004 called Newport’s “giant shopping mall” and “cluster of high-rise residential towers and some glass office buildings” a “dreary assemblage.” Garber refers to the article as a wakeup call. “A lot of city agencies have gotten more critical in a positive way about what is happening around Hudson County,” he says. “They’re holding development to a higher standard than in the past. City council and planning people are willing to engage and listen. It’s important for the future direction of cities. It’s made for some pretty decent opportunities for us.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FABIAN BIRGFELD, PHOTOTECTONICS
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DOCKING STATION, RENDERING COURTESY OF GRO ARCHITECTS
One of those opportunities was to design a prototype for an energy efficient prefab house built on a vacant lot on Minerva Street in the Greenville section of Jersey City that Jersey City Magazine featured in its Spring/Summer 2010 issue. Robertson says the house “captures our vision of green and economic performance objectives. Those two things don’t always come together.” Says Garber, “It’s a great alternative to typical stick built, wood frame construction. The aesthetic difference came in the materials—precast concrete insulated panels and cedar rain screens.” It was also a “vertical application as opposed to the horizontal siding in Greenville.” Garber and Robertson like to use the word “performance” in describing architecture. Garber likens it to a car manufacturer who refers to acceleration and luxury as performance. Garber and Robertson “think about building in a similar kind of way, optimizing drainage, solar collection, and passive heating and cooling,” Robertson says. For 402 Madison St. in Hoboken they designed a four-story residential condo building. “We didn’t have a historic issue,” says Garber. “In talking with the developer, it was more of a loft living industrial approach with large units and a special landscaped garden at the rear of the project that would be attractive to young professionals.” In addition to new construction, GRO is
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well-versed in adding to or restoring old homes. “Historic districts can be quite tricky,” Garber acknowledges. But if you are building on a vacant site in a historic district, there’s “no reason why you should build something new that looks old.” They’ve done two interior renovations of Victorian homes in Jersey City where the “historic fabric” of the street was important. The goal for both projects was to bring more natural light to the Victorian gestalt. In one, Robertson says, they “brought together the existing bones of the house with the contemporary living that the clients wanted— very modern bright and airy interiors as a way of fixing problems presented by the Victorian roofline. The existing attic was very dark.” They used a series of sliding translucent honeycomb panels that allowed light to filter in from the perimeter of the attic through the existing windows into the central attic space. One of GRO’s most innovative ideas was for “docking stations” in New York Harbor. The plans, not yet implemented, were entered in a design competition. In a nutshell, “docking stations are a system of modular floating docks designed to harness the clean energy produced by tidal action of New York City rivers to power urban infrastructure.” Says Garber, “The piers are underused, derelict relics. Extended farther into the river they could be viable public urban space, outfitted with turbines that run clockwise or counterclockwise with the tidal ebb and flow to create energy. We’re convinced of the viability.” “The perimeter of New York has not been seen as public space,” he says. “Manhattan Island and the Jersey City peninsula have a strategic relationship to the water.”—Kate Rounds GRO Architects (212) 346-0705 groarc.com
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PHOTO COURTESY OF HOM INTERIORS
Break the Mold NOTHING DOES MORE TO PERSONALIZE YOUR PAD THAN ORIGINAL ART AND ANTIQUES BY PAUL J. KAIRIS
tainless steel appliances. Granite countertops. Recessed lighting. Yawn. But add art and antiques to your home, and it becomes your home. Most of my designs revolve around art and antiques, the two things that can make your place personal and yours alone. Art and antiques come in prices from a few dollars to a few million, but they don’t have to be expensive. Buy what you can afford. But buy what you love! When you’ve purchased a piece of original art or an antique, you have something no one else has. Once you’ve chosen the pieces you love, let your color choices and room design evolve from there. You don’t want to buy a beautiful antique chest and then spoil the look with garish colors or a clunky sectional that just doesn’t fit. Also, let your antiques breathe. Too many people pile too many things into their homes. Allow some negative or empty space around your special pieces so they look special. Balance is also important. Don’t put an elegant antique high boy next to a plastic magazine rack. And don’t shy away from large scale. People are so afraid of the big factor. There’s nothing wrong
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with a large painting or a large antique. It’s almost always better than a lot of silly little things. Again, allow space around the piece so it can be shown to its best advantage. Art and antiques are available on the Jersey side of the Hudson as well as on the New York City side. Hoboken and Jersey City are full of great artists. You can view them on each city’s annual artist studio tour. And of course, New York is full of galleries that do have affordable art. Chelsea might be a bit pricey but worth a look and a good place to view fine contemporary art. You’ll also find galleries and antique shops on Manhattan’s Lower East Side and in Soho, in Brooklyn’s DUMBO section, and in the Long Island City section of Queens. Look for the big armory shows on New York City piers on the west side. I promise you, your home will be special if it has original art and antiques. Move beyond the sameness of stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, and recessed lighting. It’s time to make your home your own—with art and antiques.—PM
RESOURCES proartsjc.org hobokennj.org art-collecting.com newjerseyantiques.net/hudson aafnyc.com/ ugallery.com artnet.com/jkfa.html georgebillis.com cynthia-reeves.com
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HOMES
HOBOKEN & BEYOND
PHOTO BY PAUL J. SOMERVILLE
Tread on Me WOOD FLOORING IS THE REAL DEAL BY PAUL J. SOMERVILLE
ndless wood flooring options can lead you down a rabbit hole of indecision. After 30 years of designing, here’s what I can tell you about this important decision: Because it’s part of the architecture, get it right and it almost doesn’t matter what you add to the space; get it wrong, and you’ll spend untold sums trying to compensate and never be completely happy. Solid tongue and groove wood is still the most popular. Don’t be fooled by its heft. Only the top third may be sanded before the groove opens up. Apart from tropical woods of dubious provenance, the hardest domestic wood is maple. Popular in bowling alleys and gymnasiums, it’s closed-grain, dense, and durable, but it resists stained finishes. Very forgiving, it’s a great choice in kids’ rooms, especially if you like the natural blonde look. Open-grained quarter-sawn white or red oak is ideal for its quiet, linear pattern. Cut in a way that yields less board lumber, this pricey wood is the best choice over radiant floor heating, especially a parquet or herringbone pattern because smaller boards have less expansion and contraction. Straight-sawn oak floors can look very calico in their color variations. To minimize the contrast of boards in a lower-grade
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floor, refinish and stain them dark enough to even out the differences between boards. Woods, especially cherry, are photo reactive. Window treatments and UV protective finishes help minimize the effects, but it’s good to know in advance that you’ll never be able to rearrange furniture on a cherry floor. Some woods are marketed as “Brazilian cherry” and may not be either. Check the forestry practices of the importer before buying because blood is being shed for these logs in South America. A wide array of engineered flooring comes unfinished or prefinished, with the advantage of being dimensionally stable and somewhat “green” because wood particles may be part of their construction. Bamboo, because it is a fast-growing grass, has been marketed as “green” flooring and more dense than oak. It gets mixed reviews and the range of quality is vast, so it’s best to work with a flooring contractor who will warranty the product and the workmanship. Prefinished floors available in many stains are installed with no sanding, fumes, or dust. However, the boards have a micro bevel on all four edges to mitigate any height difference. Over large expanses, this can have a barn-like effect. Still, it is a respectable choice and the finishes are somewhat superior, having been applied under factory conditions. Older homes in our area were built with pine flooring that was often covered with thin, face-nailed parquet around 1910. The exposed pine can look wonderful in some cases but its softness won’t like your stiletto heels. Antique parquet’s wafer thinness will not survive aggressive refinishing, so a light sanding, screening, and waxing is preferable so that it will never have to be sanded again, just maintained.—PM FALL 2010
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It’s Baaack! HOW NEW WALLPAPER TREATMENTS CAN LIVEN UP A ROOM BY VANESSA DELEON
hen you think wallpaper, you probably think of the bright yellow duckthemed vinyl print in your grandma’s kitchen. But wallpaper is back and better than ever. There are many styles, colors, and textures available such as geometric, botanical, damask, gold leaf, suede, silk, beaded, velvet, and many more. With all these choices it’s very easy to pick a design that suits your personality and goal. If you can’t find wallpaper that suits your individual style and design requirements then you can custom order wallpaper to your liking. Wallpaper offers durability and practicality. You can make a room three dimensional by using wallpaper. I recently converted an attic into a cigar lounge using an incredible cork wallpaper with gold leafing underneath. The cork dramatically changed the appearance of the bathroom and kept with the theme of the cigar lounge, not to mention that it’s also a great topic for conversation. Using wallpaper as an accent wall or ceiling pattern can really make a dramatic statement by making the other colors in the room pop, as well as by adding dimension and pattern. And if you happen to change your mind it can easily be removed. Make a bold statement by using wallpaper in an entire room to really change the look. One client asked me to wrap an entire room to make it look like a jewel box. She loves to indulge in luxury and glamour so I really wanted her to experience this luxury and glamour at home. I chose a wallpaper with a silk background in silver, with a swirl design that had actual beads that look like pearls. This paper is stunning and exudes luxury, glamour, and sophistication with delicate details that suit my client’s personality perfectly. I’ve become a big fan of wallpaper because it’s versatile and easy to use. I’ve selected patterns that are appropriate for luxury highrise lobbies as well as hotel lobbies, and will continue to use it. Wallpaper is a fast and easy way to make a statement when used properly. As a designer I like to think out of the box, and with an extensive array of colors and textures it’s easy to create a unique look and design to fit your personality.—PM
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RESOURCES Seabrook seabrookwallpaper.com
PHOTO OF VANESSA DELEON: BY DANNY MURO
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Hearth and Home A FIREPLACE ADDS HEAT AND WARMTH BY PAUL J. SOMERVILLE
ons ago our ancestors learned to hibachi their bronto burgers by rubbing two sticks together. Our relationship with this most primitive of elements is as old as human existence—whether for cooking, heating, burning waste, or the occasional sacrifice. Even central heating hasn’t eliminated our love of fire. Older homes often have a projection of several inches into the room representing a chimney breast concealing flues. Some retain their mantels which we decorate like the domestic shrines they are with candlesticks, flowers, and relatives, framed or jarred. Mantels don’t always announce a wood or coal-burning fireplace. They were often purely decorative, fitted with a cast-iron insert whose louvers allowed hot air from a coal furnace to belch through a delivery system of tin ducts. For the purist, nothing beats a wood-burning fireplace, despite the challenge of getting bundles of wood to an urban dwelling (unless you resort to paraffin-molded “logs,” the Velveeta of wood). Environmental hazards such as smoke, soot, ash, and sparks have to be considered. Burning wood also creates creosote which builds up on the walls of the firebox, throat, and flue which must be cleaned frequently. The depth requirements of a wood
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PHOTO BY RICK LEW
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burning fireplace make them challenging to retrofit into most narrow homes. But when a sweet-smelling fire is blazing, crackling, and popping, our desire to draw near is primal. Gas log sets, which have been with us for more than a century, can offer some of the same aesthetics associated with wood-burning fireplaces. Usually cast of unglazed porcelain, they offer varying degrees of convincing mimicry for the real McCord. Two of the best are R.H. Peterson Co. and Eiklor Flames. Both have a variety of sizes, styles, and accessories, including fluffy stuff that sits on the floor of the fire box which, when ignited, burns as though it were live coals. Peterson calls this its “glowing ember feature.” Another good urban choice is a gas-fueled faux-coal grate from importers such as Grate Fires. Most manufacturers offer products in vented and vent-free units. When possible, go with vented. Some models have built-in measuring devices that will shut off if there isn’t enough available oxygen, but you should use a CO detector as backup. An added benefit to gas is the ease of lighting which can be handled by remote control. Somewhat new to the gas fire market are sleek, modern designs available from makers such as Spark Fires that satisfy our desire for flame and appear to have been prescribed by a feng shui master. Lighted on chilly nights in chic lobbies and spare lofts, these ribbons of flame don’t pretend to be wood but convey the same message: Here’s warmth, here’s shelter, here’s home.—PM
RESOURCES Eiklor Flames eiklorflames.com (888) 295-5647 Grate Fires gratefires.com (800) 453-6774 R.H. Peterson Co. rhpeterson.com (800) 332-3973 Spark Fires sparkfires.com (866) 938-3846
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PHOTOS BY DANNY MURO
Tile’s Untold Story USE THIS ‘VERSA-TILE’ DESIGN ELEMENT TO ADD COLOR, CONTRAST, AND TEXTURE TO ANY ROOM BY VANESSA DELEON
use tile in almost every project and many of my designs. I won the 2007 Ceramic Tile of Italy award sponsored by Ceramic Tiles of Italy and the Italian Trade Commission. For a modern home in Old Tappan, N.J., I used a combination of Italian tile in the entire house—glass, porcelain, mosaic, ceramic, and silver. When most people think of tile they think of ceramic, marble, and porcelain tile. But like wallpaper, tile has really come a long way. You can find tile made from glass, leather, painted finish, silver, bronze, recycled glass, 24 carat gold, eco friendly—the list goes on. Tile can make a huge impact, bringing texture, color, and patterns to a room that’s lacking that extra punch. You can use tile in many different ways and for many different purposes. Using color combos and various sizes, tile can add an exciting feature or detail. For example, you can make a dull stair riser look striking by adding mosaic strips. Or you can add an accent feature by using a unique mosaic pattern to dress an entire wall.
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HOMES
HOBOKEN & BEYOND
The Tiler WANT TO MAKE YOUR HOME YOUR OWN? HAVE YOUR TILES CUSTOM MADE
“BIRCH TREES” TILE AND PHOTO BY BETH DICARA
And sometimes less is more. Large pattern tiles (12”x24”) on a single wall in a bathroom can add just as much interest as wrapping your entire bathroom in tiles. Wall tile can also be cut down (3”x3”) to create a corner insert design for your bathroom floor. This will make the bathroom look tailored but not overdone. Tile is easy to maintain, cost effective, and durable. It comes in many varieties, allows for design flexibility, and is easy to remove. It’s a fabulous design element that really makes a statement.—PM
RESOURCES Bisazza Mosaic bisazza.com/usa
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If you’ve been looking at show rooms and model units in some of the new condos on the waterfront, then you’re probably getting a sense of déjà vu: Haven’t I seen these tiles before? To avoid that sinking feeling, commission a potter or ceramicist to custom make exactly what you want. Beth DiCara, who has a studio in Jersey City, has been making pottery and ceramic tiles for 17 years. “Everybody’s different,” she says. “Some people know exactly what they want. Other people have a basic idea. You work with them until you come up with what they like. I’ve made a lot of tiles for creative people or other artists who have something they really want in mind but haven’t seen anywhere.” Maybe it’s her Hudson County locale, but fish of every description are a recurring theme in DiCara’a work. Her fish tiles can be used for backsplashes behind sinks or embedded among commercial tiles in bathrooms or kitchens. One client in Ocean Grove requested a bright red dragon surrounded by tiles for the area behind her stove. Another wanted an etching interpreted in tile. “I made it dimensional and changed the colors,” DiCara says. If you’re worried about price, she points out that just a few custom tiles make a room unique and add to the interest and buzz factor. “Don’t do a whole room,” she advises. “Just use a couple of pieces or a row of tiles. That makes it special.” Her clients have commissioned tiles for bathroom showers and around fireplaces. Someone from the Bay of Fundy in Canada wanted a whale, in keeping with the local marine life. Another client saved some leaves from a beloved tree that was being cut down so that the leaf motif could be used on custom tiles inside the house. DiCara has also made tiles using poppies and gingko leaves. Commissioning custom tiles, she says, is “like buying a painting. It’s your own. Nobody else has it.” DiCara works full time in her studio, “making funky functional pottery, small sculptures, and bas relief.” “I love what I do,” she says.—Kate Rounds eveningstarstudio.net (201) 388-7323
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HOBOKEN & BEYOND
Entry Essentials
BY SUZANNE CUMMINGS
FOYER INFORMATION
FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES, CONTACT THE HUDSON REPORTER 201.798.7800 Publishing this Fall 2010
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&
THE HUDSON REPORTER
old Coast homes offer challenges that suburban homes don’t. We all dream of big backdoor mud rooms but the reality is, if you own a brownstone, the front door is the one you use most, and if you own a condo, it may be your only door. Your tiny entry can’t comfortably accommodate your family’s comings and goings, and it probably can’t fulfill its key decorative function—giving guests that allimportant first impression. Creating an entry that’s both efficient and attractive can be a challenge in a small space, but we’ve found some strategies that really work. The first thing you need is a hall table with at least a couple of drawers. Many brownstones feature an enormous cast iron radiator right inside the front door—great for heat, not so great for style and storage. If you’re stuck with
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this, consider purchasing an attractive wood radiator cover or having one made. This will give you the look, and some of the function, of the hall table. The cover will also help child- and pet-proof the radiator. If, on the other hand, your foyer is radiator free, chances are you have a bit of wall space that could accommodate a hall table or—even better—a cabinet or chest of drawers. The more storage the better. Ideally, each member of the family could be assigned a drawer for accessories: gloves, wallet, sunglasses, SmartLink, stamps, iPod, plastic bags (if you have a dog), hats, mittens, scarves, baby wipes, a small dish for bus or Laundromat change, and so on. Your hall table, chest, or cabinet doesn’t have to be new or expensive. It could be a flea market find, an unfinished piece you paint or stain yourself, or one borrowed from another room. One client took a pale yellow vintage cabinet—formerly a nursery storage piece—and repainted it a sophisticated satin black, replacing chunky wood knobs with elegant polished nickel pulls. For a more casual, open look, an alternative could be a two- or three-shelf bookcase, filled with matching fabric-lined baskets with fabric liners monogrammed with family members’ names or initials, or simply labeled with hang tags. The top of the hall table, chest, or cabinet should be kept clear for a sleek and organized look, but here are a few accessories I would choose: • A small, pretty lamp offers a soft alternative to harsh overhead lighting. There’s nothing worse than coming home to a dark house—especially in winter—so put the lamp on a timer so it comes on automatically at dusk. • Light a scented candle every evening to give family and friends a warm welcome. Don’t leave candles unattended, and keep them out of reach of children and pets. Homeslice, at 11th and Washington in Hoboken, offers a unique and sophisticated selection. • Buy a bunch of one type of flower at the corner deli (freesia, roses, carnations), cut the stems short, and drop them into a silver-plated mint julep cup, pretty drinking glass, or even a jam jar. If you still have room, here are some other entry assets you could add: • A small wood-frame or upholstered chair or a bench (perfect for removing muddy shoes and boots, and a good place to park a large tote or diaper bag). • A decorative mirror to hang above your hall table.
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HOMES
• An attractive coat rack if you don’t have a proper coat closet. Or mount pretty, decHOBOKEN & BEYOND orative hooks on the wall or on a length of 3/4”- to 1” wood painted in semi-gloss the same color as your walls. Mount the hooks at two levels—high for adults and low so kids can hang their own coats. • Under your coat hooks, or if there’s space under your table or cabinet, add a capacious boot tray and encourage family members to remove their shoes when they come in the door. Socks and slippers in a variety of sizes can be kept in a basket in your storage piece or on the floor. • Don’t let junk mail sneak past the foyer. Go through the mail at your hall table and immediately drop unwanted paper in the recycling basket. Sort remaining mail into your family’s drawers or baskets.—PM
Let us create your own secret hideaway B. BAKELAAR LANDSCAPE DESIGN
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HOME ON THE HUDSON
Living on the Edge ‘MEDITERRANEAN MANOR’ ON KINGS BLUFF IS HOME TO HISTORY BY LANA ROSE DIAZ PHOTOS BY TERRIANN SAULINO BISH AND ALYSSA BREDIN
ven in crowded Hudson County, there are private homes that are oases of history and space, especially in the Kings Bluff Historic District in Weehawken, a high ridge facing the Hudson River. The winding turn off busy Boulevard East is easy to miss, and its residents probably like it that way, since the small enclave seems like another world. Architecture styles vary throughout the enclave, which is a magnificent maze of one-way streets and seeming dead ends that lead to more residential nooks. One of those nooks is home to 1 Bellevue Terrace—an early 20th century Spanish-style sprawling mansion on the edge of the bluff. A 1917 ad for the home in Country Life Magazine does not reveal the going price but boasts that the home includes eight master bedrooms and a “garage with all improvements.”
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When the property was put on the market earlier this year, a descendant of the 1930s owner provided historic pictures of the home to be passed down to the new owners. In addition to family shots throughout the interior, one photo shows an old view of New York City long before skyscrapers ruled the skyline. The home now has six bedrooms, four full bathrooms, three half bathrooms, and its own original elevator. Stained glass, rich woodwork, and four fireplaces have been preserved, and exquisite detailing abounds. But the true gem of the home is the grounds—private panoramic views of the New York City skyline and a landscaped wonderland featuring a miniature castle. Kings Bluff was named after the King Family, one of the oldest and wealthiest families in the United States, who came to Weehawken in 1832 and built several mansions throughout the township. When the Kings left Weehawken, their estates were cut into parcels and later into building lots that now feature some of the most beautiful and distinctive real estate in Weehawken today.—PM
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D AT E S
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
9-12
1-3
Hoboken Italian festival Feast of the Madonna Dei Martini Sinatra Park, Hoboken hobokenitalianfestival.com
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Cheryl Wheeler at the Brennan Coffee House 7:30 p.m. 583 Newark Ave. Jersey City (800) 542-7894 brennancoffeehouse.org
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7th Annual NJ Meadowlands Festival of Birding Meadowlands Environment Center, Lyndhurst Join some of the region’s best birders on walks, eco-cruises, and workshops geared to birders of all levels. Saturday includes events at the environment center, off-site field trips, breakfast, lunch, and a keynote presentation by a renowned birder. Sunday includes off-site field trips. $40 (kids age 10-17 free). (201) 968-0808 hackensackriverkeeper.org
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PSEG GreenFest 2010: A PlanetHugger Event Join some of the leading environmentalists in the country, charismatic and wellknown speakers, and GreenFest exhibitors. (908) 735-8400 ruth@planethuggerevents.com pseggreenfest.com
2-3
Jersey City Artists Studio Tour A self-guided walking tour of the studios, galleries, exhibitions, and performances of hundreds of artists. Sponsored by the mayor, the cultural division, ProArts, the municipal council, and The Hudson Reporter. Noon-6 p.m. proartsjerseycity.org
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Fall Art Music Festival Featuring three stages of live music and more than 300 artists, sculptors, photographers, and craftspeople. Geri Fallo, Director of Cultural Affairs (201) 420-2207 hoboken nj.org
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NOVEMBER
Lucy Kaplansky at the Brennan Coffee House 7:30 p.m. 583 Newark Ave. Jersey City (800) 542-7894 brennancoffeehouse.org
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Novel Night Vol. 3 A literary dining event to benefit the Hoboken Public Library (201) 795-5410 novelnight@gmail.com hobokenfol.org/novelnight
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The Haunted Terminal at Liberty State Park Jersey City History comes to life as the Central Railroad Terminal of New Jersey is taken over by ghosts, ghouls, and other things that go bump in the night! Have a scary good time and learn a little local history along the way. Cosponsored by the Friends of Liberty State Park, Statue Cruises, and the Educational Arts Team. Walking tours every half hour, 7-9:30 p.m. $5. (201) 915-3412
Hoboken Artists Studio Tour A free citywide self-guided walking tour of artists’ studios and community gallery spaces. Noon-6 p.m. hobokennj.org
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Richard Shindell at the Brennan Coffee House 7:30 p.m. 583 Newark Ave. Jersey City (800) 542-7894 brennancoffeehouse.org
NEW YORK MINUTE
Celtic Thunder Oct. 1 Radio City Music Hall 1260 Avenue of the Americas 8 p.m. ticketmaster.com Madea’s Big Happy Family Oct. 15-21 The Theater at Madison Square Garden 31st-34th Streets between 7th and 8th Avenues thegarden.com
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DISH
Paula ucked into a bustling stretch of Park Avenue in Weehawken is one of those little establishments that catch your eye. In fact my dinner companion said she’d spotted it from her car and always wanted to try it. Well, I am here to tell you that it does not disappoint. Many of you will remember it as Paula at Rigoletto Ristorante. The first day of fall marks Paula’s eighth anniversary, and now the restaurant will be called just Paula. Paula is a cozy, welcoming space with soft yellow walls, local art, and—I have to mention it—a big bathroom with beautiful tiles and other artful touches. But Paula has what every restaurant should have but too many don’t: fresh, wellprepared, lively food. By lively, I mean not bland but not doused in sauce either. OK, let’s start with something that seems deceptively simple—mozzarella and tomato with fresh basil. Those tomatoes! You have to wonder where chef and owner Paula Frazier found them. Big, juicy, tasty, deep red. She also wanted us to try her specialty appetizer, melanzane alla napoletanna—grilled eggplant layered with ricotta and pecorino, fresh basil leaves, and spicy marinara sauce. Here’s how my friend described it: “The eggplant had a subtle smoky flavor that complemented the sweetness of the sauce. The ricotta cheese didn’t overwhelm the dish, and it was browned to perfection on the top, creating a soft crust. The sauce had a bite that went well with the rest of the flavors.” I think that sauce-with-a-bite can describe my favorite pasta dish—bucatini alla matriciana—crispy pancetta, onion, hot red pepper tomato sauce, and pecorino. Don’t be afraid of that “hot”; it wasn’t so much hot as zesty. My friend went for the spaghetti alla carbonara: “Though it was rich, it had a s harp parm flavor that broke up the creaminess.” Next came two main courses. The pollo pipieno al ouattro formaggi con marsala is chicken
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PHOTOS BY ANTHONY SAINT JAMES
palisade • hoboken & beyond
DISH
breast stuffed with four cheeses and sauced with mushroom and marsala wine. The other was veal medallions topped with prosciutto and fresh sage, sautéed with white wine. Both came with spinach and perfectly cooked pan roasted potatoes, which were crisp and flavorful. These two entrees also adhered to what must be one of Paula’s philosophies: Let the food speak for itself. The seasonings allowed the veal and chicken flavors to come through loud and clear. Strawberry shortcake was the special of the evening so we had that and also tried the flourless chocolate cake. The shortcake was made with a biscuit that was only slightly sweet, and the strawberries, like the tomato, were ripe and sweet. The chocolate cake, obviously made with the finest chocolate, was lighter than you’d expect, softly crumbling in the mouth. Pace yourselves, ladies and gentlemen. Or, better still, become a regular and return again and again to Paula’s savory kitchen.—Kate Rounds Paula 3706 Park Ave. Weehawken (201) 422-9500 BYOB
palisade • hoboken & beyond
FALL 2010
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palisade’s
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restaurant highlights along the hudson
PHOTO BY MJFLIX.COM MAKE-UP BY CAROLE-ANN RODRIGUEZ
american MAXWELL’S 1039 Washington Street Hoboken (201) 798-0406 www.maxwellsnj.com
KEY TO SYMBOLS
Maxwell’s serves delicious down-home fare such as Chicken Pot pie, Fish & Chips, Macaroni & Cheese and the best burgers in Hoboken. For the diet-conscious, enjoy an array of salads and other lighter fare. Check our daily specials on-line. AMEX, D, MC, V, $$, å
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URBAN PLUM Holiday Inn Hotel 300 Plaza Drive Secaucus, (201) 520-0574 info@urbanplum.com Part gastropub, part swanky lounge, Urban Plum offers the comfort of a neighborhood restaurant fused with a see-and-be-seen lounge. It offers the perfect combination of colorful and bold flavors from the surrounding area, great design, impeccable hospitality, and an incomparable locale. Open seven days for breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktails, and late-night dining. AMEX, D, MC, V, $$, X,å
WATERSIDE RESTAURANT AND CATERING 7800 B River Road North Bergen (201) 861-7767 www.watersiderestaurantandcatering.com Located on the Hudson River across from Manhattan, The Waterside offers dramatic views of the New York skyline, impeccable service, the best steaks and seafood on the water, and fine wines in a wide range of prices. The restaurant, which is under new management, has just been completely redesigned, combining contemporary energy with classic elegance. Enjoy live entertainment Thursday through Sunday. Valet parking is available. AMEX, MC, V, $$, X,å
payment
price
AMEX (American Express) D (Discover) DC (Diners Club) MC (Master Card) V (Visa)
$ (under $15) $$ ($15 to $25) $$$ (Over $25)
FALL 2010
X (Wheelchair Accessible)
å (Bar)
access
alcohol
x
(No Liquor License)
palisade • hoboken & beyond
DISH CASA DANTE
italian ANTONIAS BY THE PARK 9011 Palisade Avenue North Bergen (201) 868-0750 www.Antoniasby the Park.com One of the best authentic Italian restaurants featuring the freshest pasta, seafood, and steaks along with daily specials. From our exceptional cuisine to our elegant ambience, Antonia’s is second to none. Come in and enjoy live music Thursday-Saturday. Private party room available for up to 150. AMEX, MC, V, $$, å
back year after year. One important detail … GP’S has valet parking! AMEX, MC, V, $$, å
737 Newark Avenue Jersey City (201) 795-2750 www.casadante.com
MARTINI GRILL
The new Casa Dante retains its classic charm while featuring a modernized, more cosmopolitan style. The new bar, lounge, and revitalized interior create an atmosphere that combines live music, dancing, and of course, the finest Italian cuisine—and valet parking. AMEX, D, MC, V, $$, X,å
GP’S RESTAURANT 24 - 69th Street (1/2 block from Boulevard East) Guttenberg (201) 861-6588 www.gpsrestaurant.com Serving traditional homemade Italian/ American food for more than 30 years, GP’S is a local favorite. Its Greek house salad and hearty family meal keep customers coming
187 Hackensack Street Wood-Ridge (201) 939-2000 The restaurant received three stars from the Bergen Record. Bergen Health & Life Magazine awarded it the best chef, best martini, best wine bar, and best calamari. The Record Readers Choice awarded it the best martini and tapas menu. Drink specials are offered Monday-Friday, noon-7 at the bar. Enjoy live entertainment WednesdaySaturday. The Martini Grill is just minutes from Teterboro Airport. If it’s good enough for Britney Spears, Steven Spielberg, Johnny Depp, Denzel Washington, Tom Cruise, Sean Penn, Martha Stewart, and executives of the world’s top companies, then it might be worth checking out. Live jazz Friday and Saturday. AMEX, D, MC, V, $$, X,å
R E S TA U R A N T & C AT E R I N G
EST. 1983
Rated by Zagat NJ’s Top Steak House and one of America’s Top Restaurants
THE BEST STEAKS AND SEAFOOD ON THE WATER THE RECORD
BREATHTAKING NYC SKYLINE VIEWS AMAZING Wine List ENTICING American Menu OUTDOOR LIVE Entertainment Thursday –Sunday Serving Lunch & Dinner
PERFECT Location For Your Catering Event from 50-210 People with customizable menus
(weather permitting)
www.riverpalm.com
1416 River Road, Edgewater
201-224-2013
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other locations Mahwah & Fair Lawn
Outdoor Dining for Lunch and Dinner on the Water’s Edge
7800 B River Road North Bergen, NJ 07047 www.watersiderestaurantandcatering.com
Outside Bar for Cocktails under the Starlight
payment
price
AMEX (American Express) D (Discover) DC (Diners Club) MC (Master Card) V (Visa)
$ (under $15) $$ ($15 to $25) $$$ (Over $25)
palisade • hoboken & beyond
X (Wheelchair Accessible)
å (Bar)
access
alcohol
x
(No Liquor License)
FALL 2010
51
DISH MICHAEL ANTHONY’S 502 Washington Blvd. Jersey City (201) 798-1798 www.mar-jc.com From the moment you step into Michael Anthony’s you can’t help but be impressed
by the nautically inspire décor. High ceilings, boating-shaped bar, ten-foot sails for the indoor and outdoor bars, and waterfall walls separating the banquet room and restaurant enhance your fine Italian dining experience. Enjoy a cordial on the deck overlooking the spectacular Manhattan skyline. Join us for happy hour, dinner, or a private social event. AMEX, D, MC, V, $$, X,å
1039 washington st., hoboken nj 201-798-0406 • www.maxwellsnj.com
japanese KOMEGASHI 103 Montgomery Street Jersey City (201) 433-4567
KOMEGASHI TOO 99 Pavonia Avenue Jersey City www.komegashi.com (201) 533-8888 Fresh, beautifully presented sushi and traditional Japanese fare is the order of the day at two of Jersey City’s favorite restaurants. Komegashi too sits on the waterfront with a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline, while the original has been serving the financial district for 15 years. AMEX, D, MC, V, $$, å
""best best r reason eason to leave to leave (new york) (new york) for for dinner and dinner and a show" show" --the the village village voice voice
ROBONGI 520 Washington St. Hoboken (201) 222-8388 www.robongi.com
ROBONGI 4800 Ave. At Port Imperial Weehawken (201) 558-1818 www.robongi.com
CUISINE & HIBACHI 319 WARREN ST. • JERSEY CITY, NJ • 07302 PRIVATE PARTY AVAILABLE FROM 20~150 PEOPLE
Robongi offers ample portions of fresh sushi and serves inventive Japanese cuisine at two locations. You can dine within the heart of Hoboken or enjoy the view of Manhatten at our Weehawken location. AMEX, MC, V, $$, X
TEPPAN BAR & GRILL 319 Warren Street Jersey City (201) 451-9989 www.teppanjersycity.com
www.TeppanJC.com Mon. - Fri. 4:30-7 pm $3
A trendy Japanese / Hibachi eatery with a wide variety of delectable food, Teppan will please any picky eater. From our entertaining hibachi and sushi chefs to our stylish decor, this new Jersey City hot spot is where your taste buds will throw a party of their own.The menu offers a seemingly endless selection of eclectic high quality prepared food such as sushi, sashimi, donburi, katsu curry, and comfort meals, including udon, soba, and ramen.Our U-shaped counter surrounding an open hibachi grill is where friends and family watch the cook skillfully prepare the meal . Perfectly mixed cocktails and an affordable wine list help make Teppan an unforgettable experience! AMEX, MC, V, $$, X,å
KIRIN DRAFT & ADDITIONAL DRINK SPECIALS **At Bar Only** P. 201-451-9989 • 201-451-8988 • F. 201-451-8908
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Parking available at lot diagonal from restaurant $2.00 for 2 hours during lunch • FREE PARKING after 4:30 pm & weekends Minutes walk from Grove St./Exchange Place Path Station & Light Rail
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payment
price
AMEX (American Express) D (Discover) DC (Diners Club) MC (Master Card) V (Visa)
$ (under $15) $$ ($15 to $25) $$$ (Over $25)
FALL 2010
X (Wheelchair Accessible)
å (Bar)
access
alcohol
x
(No Liquor License)
palisade • hoboken & beyond
palisade’s
dish spotlight
Komegashi too
Michael Anthony’s Heated outdoor patio bar. Spectacular views of Manhattan. Sunday brunch. After dinner entertainment (Friday and Saturday). Live entertainment. Large Banquet Party Hall, can accomodate all functions. Dining Hours: 11:30 am - close. Sunday Brunch. Open 7 days. On pier parking, street parking and courtesy validated parking in Westin Hotel garage. AMEX, D, MC, V, $$, 8, Ç
502 Washington Blvd. (At Newport Marina Pier) Jersey City (201) 798-1798 WATERFRONT RESTAURANT www.mar-jc.com
Michael Anthony’s
Open for lunch and dinner, Komegashi too offers contemporary Japanese cuisine, along with expertly prepared sushi, sashimi and more. Located next to Newport Marina, our main dining room overlooks a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline. Popular for our unbeatable happy hour specials, our full-service bar carries an extensive list of wine, beer, sake and signature cocktails. Catering and private parties available. AMEX, MC, V, $$, 8, Ç
Komegashi, (201) 433-4567 103 Montgomery Street, JC Komegashi Too, (201) 533-8888 99 Pavonia Avenue, JC www.komegashi.com
Martini Grill
Robongi Japan is a contemporary Japanese restaurant chain known for its ample portions and striking designs. Located in Hoboken and Weehawken. Robongi Japan serves inventive Japanese cuisine ranging from sushi, sashimi and creative salads to signature dishes like carpaccios, ceviches, tartares, filet mignon, grilled spicy shrimp and specialty rolls. AMEX, D, MC, V, $$, 8,
Rated The Record 2/25/2005. “If it's good enough for Britney Spears, Steven Spielberg, Johnny Depp, Denzel Washington, Mary J. Blidge, Tom Cruise, Sean Penn, Martha Stewart and executives of the world's top companies, then Martini Grill in Woodridge might be worth checking out.” Live Jazz Friday and Saturday.Minutes From Teterboro Airport. Extensive Martini Menu and Wine List. Restaurant • Bar • Lounge.
520 Washington St., Hoboken (201) 222-8388 • www.robongi.com 4800 Ave. at Port Imperial, Weehawken (201) 558-1818 • www.robongijapan.com
187 Hackensack St., Wood-Ridge (201) 939-2000
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Robongi
AMEX, MC, V, $$, Ç
payment
price
AMEX (American Express) D (Discover) DC (Diners Club) MC (Master Card) V (Visa)
$ (under $15) $$ ($15 to $25) $$$ (Over $25)
palisade • hoboken & beyond
X (Wheelchair Accessible)
å (Bar)
access
alcohol
x
(No Liquor License)
FALL 2010
53
DISH
mexican
steakhouse
BAJA / HOBOKEN
ARTHUR’S STEAKHOUSE
104 14th Street Hoboken (201) 653-0610 www.bajamexicancuisine.com
237 Washington Street Hoboken (201) 656-5009 www.arthurstavern.com
BAJA / JERSEY CITY
Arthur’s is famous for delicious giant steaks, mouth watering burgers, huge salads, overstuffed sandwiches, and the freshest lunch and dinner specials. Value and quality are key here. Arthur’s has the casual atmosphere of an old fashioned neighborhood tavern that offers fun for all. AMEX, D, MC, V, DC $$, X,å
117 Montgomery Street Jersey City (201) 915-0062 www.bajamexicancuisine.com Baja offers a new experience in charbroiled Tex-Mex specialties. With the best mojitos and margaritas around and happy hour every day, it’s a fun place with a happening bar. Private parties of up to 60 can be accommodated in Jersey City. AMEX, D, MC, V, $$, X,å
DINO & HARRY’S 163 14th Street Hoboken (201) 659-6202 www.dinoanharrys.com With a legacy as full and rich as its varied menu, this steakhouse should not be missed. Dino & Harry’s is famous for dry-aged steaks
and chops. It also serves a selection of pastas and delicious seafood that is cooked to the guest’s exact specifications. It offers an extensive wine list, live piano music, and can host private parties. AMEX, MC, V, $$, X,å
EDWARD’S STEAK HOUSE 239 Marin Boulevard Jersey City (201) 761-0000 www.edwardssteakhouse.com Edward’s Steak House offers steak, seafood, and other sumptuous fare with an elegant bistro flare. Tucked into an historic townhouse in downtown Jersey City, Edward’s is comfortably upscale. The menu includes all the classic steaks and chops—aged prime sirloin, porterhouse, filet mignon, and more. You’ll enjoy the atmosphere whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or stopping by for a steak sandwich at the bar. AMEX, MC, V, $$, X,å
THE RIVER PALM TERRACE 1416 River Road Edgewater (201) 224-2013 www.riverpalm.com
Edward’s S
T E A K
H
O U S E
In addition to its tender, prime, dry aged beef, sparkling fresh seafood, farm fresh salads, extra thick chops, homemade desserts, and an award winning wine list, the River Palm also serves a full sushi menu prepared by its own sushi chef. AMEX, D, MC, V, $$, å
palisade’s LOCATED IN HISTORIC DOWNTOWN
239 MARIN BOULEVARD, JERSEY CITY
dish
PARKING AVAILABLE CALL FOR RESERVATIONS 201.761.0000
www.edwardssteakhouse.com
NJ MONTHLY Top 25 Restaurants in NJ
To advertise your restaurant in the next issue of Palisade, please call 201.798.7800 palisade@hudsonreporter.com
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CRITICS CHOICE for Best Steakhouse
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payment
price
AMEX (American Express) D (Discover) DC (Diners Club) MC (Master Card) V (Visa)
$ (under $15) $$ ($15 to $25) $$$ (Over $25)
FALL 2010
X (Wheelchair Accessible)
å (Bar)
access
alcohol
x
(No Liquor License)
palisade • hoboken & beyond
Take in the View at
Lincoln Harbor
Fine restaurants and the best view of theManhattan skyline
Masina Trattoria Italiana
Chart House 201.348.6628 chart-house.com
201.348.4444 masinatrattoria.com
Houlihan’s
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
201.863.4000
201.863.5100
houlihans.com
ruthschris.com
For a Free Directory of Services & Restaurants call 201.348.3703 or 201.348.4780 Lincoln Harbor 1200 Harbor Blvd., Weehawken, NJ www.LincolnHarbor.com Featuring fine restaurants, Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel, Foodcourt & Services Conveniently located off I-495, adjacent to the Lincoln Tunnel. On-site NY Waterway Ferry stop to New York City. Accessible by Hudson—Bergen light rail connections to North Bergen, Hoboken Path Station, 22nd St. in Bayonne & Jersey City. NJ Transit Buses: # 167 from Toms River; # 64 from Lakewood; # 156, # 158, and # 159 from Edgewater Sheraton Lincoln Harbor Hotel: 201.617.5600
Take Advantage
of Hudson Honda and get: +
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Full Service Honda-Authorized Body Shop Open Sat & Sun
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Convenient Location Between the George Washington Bridge & the Lincoln Tunnel on Kennedy Blvd
NJ Turnpike John F. Kennedy Blvd West
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GW Bridge
N 66th St. Lincoln Tunnel
888.208.0017
6608 John F. Kennedy Blvd West, West New York, NJ | Get all the details at: www.HudsonHonda.com