Volume 16, No. 12
December 18th - December 28th 2012 FREE PUBLICATION
riverviewobserver.net
201-349-4336
Pg. 2 On the Cover
Pg. 6
Hudson Then & Again. . .
Pg. 7
Meet Local Artists
Pg. 17
Restaurant Views
Pg. 19
At the Movies
Pgs. 23 - 28 TURN YOUR UNWANTED JEWELRY INTO CASH see pg. 12
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Nimbus Dance Works’ version of Tchaikovsky’s classic features the composer’s beautiful score with a twist on its tale. In the original E.T.A Hoffman story, the boy and girl, Christopher and Maria, fall asleep and the toys that are placed under the tree spring to life. In the Nimbus version, Christopher and Maria embark on a journey through the urban landscape instead where dancers play Sugar Plum Fairies, an Arabian Princess, The Rat King and so much more as Tchaikovsky’s score helps bring the story to life. Now in its third year, and one of Nimbus Dance Works signature pieces, “Jersey City Nutcracker” has become a family tradition among locals. This year’s production
..
By Sally Deering
features a cast of more than 100 that includes professional dancers who are members of Nimbus Dance Works and students from St. Dominic’s Academy, Henry Snyder High School, Jersey City Dance Academy, Next Step Broadway and Middle School No 4, where the show will be performed. There are so many students in the show that Pott cast four female students and three male students to play Christopher and Maria on different nights. On the 22nd, Tamir Rios of Jersey City will be Christopher and Gina Pilamunga of West New York will play Maria. “I’ve been dancing since I was 4, “Gina says during a break in rehearsals. “I’m on my dance team at Memorial
High School and my dance teacher suggested I audition.” An 8th grader at Middle School No. 4, Christopher was discovered by Nimbus when he was seen dancing hip-hop – a bit of a stretch from ballet, but something Christopher is learning to enjoy. “This is new for me,” Christopher says. “I like it.” Both students say they’re getting a lot out of the experience, especially learning that to be professional requires more than just dancing well. “Professional also means facial expressions,” Gina says. “You need to put yourself into the character.” Sounds intense, but that’s just what Pott teaches the students during rehearsals. While going over the steps
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con’t from pg. 2 in a scene where Maria has to appear terrified of evil rats circling her, Pott emphasizes the difference between giving a cute child performance and making an impact. “Kids performances look cute; professional performances move the audience,” Pott tells them.
Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker with a Twist
“Jersey City Nutcracker’s” collaborative team features Pott as choreographer/ director; Alysia Souder as librettist/playwright; Irene Borngraeber, scenic designer; and Jennifer Bentley costume designer. This year, the show is being presented at a larger venue and with new sets and costumes. “It’s a nice event for families with kids,” Managing Director Ivet Bandirma says. “Goldman Sachs is our title sponsor. It’s a lot of fun, a lot of work and a great experience for the students who get to work with professional dancers.” Indeed, 120 students from local schools – and schools in Newark – make up the cast of “Jersey City Nutcracker” with kids as young as 5 playing Cookies and their older dance classmates, 6-9, playing Angels. Many of the kids are enrolled in The School of Nimbus Dance Works, which just opened in September 2012. Nikki Albert of Green Township in Sussex County recently earned a BFA in Dance from the MasonGross School of the Arts at Rutger’s University. She is an apprentice with Nimbus Dance Works and after
Nimbus Dance Works rehearses Jersey City Nutcracker auditioning, Albert landed the role of The Rat King where she dances and performs some complex steps all the while brandishing a sword. Albert is also the story’s narrator. “I love ‘The Nutcracker’ and the opportunity to work with the company and with the kids,” Albert says. “It’s a lot of fun and I’m learning a lot.”
Gotta Dance in Jersey City During rehearsal, Pott watches the dancers execute his choreography. Focused, friendly, yet straightforward with the student dancers,
Pott points out when the students are off the beat or when their movements need to be finessed. What made Pott decide to start a dance company? It wasn’t a planned decision, he says, just something that grew organically when Pott and other dancers expressed a collective desire to perform. “At the start it was me and fellow dancers from the American Repertory Ballet and we wanted to do our own projects,” Pott says. “Mostly we’ve been operating out of Grace Church. They’ve always been extremely gracious and generous. We owe a lot to
them.” Nimbus Dance Works plans to present a spring season in Jersey City and at the Alvin Ailey Theater in New York City. Even though it has grown from a grassroots group of dancers to a 501 (c) 3 non-profit dance company, Pott says the mission continues to be about designing and creating projects to get people involved and impact the community. “Many dance companies are about the art of dance,” Pott says. “We try to bring the highest level of dance into the community. Everything we do is based on the question how can we make an impact, change people’s lives?”
Visit Us On the Web at:
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If you go: Fri, Dec. 21, 7 pm; Sat, Dec. 22, 1 and 5 pm; and, Sun, Dec. 23, 1 and 5 pm “Jersey City Nutcracker” Frank R. Conwell Middle School NO. 4 107 Bright Street Jersey City (201) 377-0718 www.nimbusdanceworks.org Tickets: Orchestra Seats: $25 General Admission: $18 Seniors, and Students under 17: $10
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STAGEfest 2013 at the Loew’s Jersey Theatre – One-Act Play Submissions now Accepted The Landmark Loew’s Jersey Theatre is now taking applications for its first annual Festival of One-Act Plays & Performance STAGEfest 2013 - which will be held March 22-24, 2013. The inaugural year of STAGEfest 2013 at the Loew’s Jersey will be a vibrant and diverse weekend of plays, performance installations and site-specific work, dedicated to the celebration and advancement of theater in the region. STAGEfest is produced
by Friends of the Loew’s, Inc. the 501c3 Not-For-Profit that restores, maintains and operates the Landmark Loew’s Jersey Theatre in the heart of Journal Square in Jersey City. All of STAGEfest will happen in the Loew’s – but not just on its stage. To wow patrons and glorify the arts, the architects of the Loew’s created many extraordinary spaces in addition to the breathtaking auditorium: lobbies, salons, promenades, hallways – all grandly designed and
some possessing a surprising feeling of intimacy. For STAGEfest, the group will push past the proscenium and use as many of the theatre’s spaces as practical. Theater and performance companies as well as individuals based in the greater Northern and Central New Jersey area are invited to submit scripts and proposals. Deadline for submissions is January 4, 2013 (recently extended!) and there is NO application fee.
For applications and further information go to: http:// www.loewsjersey.org/ stagefest If you have never been to the Loew’s in Jersey City, you can see pictures at: http://www.loewsjersey.org/
browse the website: http:// www.loewsjersey.org/ This is a great opportunity for theater companies and individuals to expose their work to new audiences. Send questions to STAGEfest.Loews@gmail.com.
Holiday Gatherings in Hudson
On Saturday, December 12th, the Bayonne Chamber of Commerce held its Chamber to Charity event at Winners Racing Facility in Bayonne to raise donations for the food banks of Bayonne. Pictured at the event : Jason Settlemoir, General Mgr./CEO of Meadowlands Raceway and Winners; Robert Kowalski, Director of Winners Bayonne; and Vincent Virga, President of the Bayonne Chamber of Commerce; and President of PFS Wealth Management Group of Bayonne.
On Thursday, Dec. 6, the Hudson County Community College Foundation held its 15th Annual Holiday Extravaganza. The annual Distinguished Service Award was presented to PSE&G. Pictured from left are HCCC President Dr. Glen Gabert; William J. Netchert, Esq., Chair of the HCCC Board of Trustees; Richard Dwyer, PSE&G Regional Public Affairs Manager and HCCC Foundation Director; Chanda Gibson, Chair of the HCCC Foundation Board of Directors; and HCCC Vice President for Development Joseph Sansone.
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Celebrate New Year’s Eve
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Puccini’s is taking reservations for Christmas Eve Dinner
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Hudson Then...Again By Maureen Wlodarczyk
I am a lover of books as well as writing. Among my favorite authors is Frank Delaney, the prize-winning, best-selling author who NPR dubbed “The Most Eloquent Man in the World.” Said more succinctly, Delaney, in the tradition of his Irish roots, can really tell a story. In his book
Venetia Kelly’s Traveling Show, he weaves a 1930s tale of a mesmerizing woman and her immoral, parasitic family. One of the key characters is “King” Kelly, a smooth-asglass con-man and sometime politician whose greed and propensity for using people make him as dangerous as the most venomous snake. Never expecting it,
I recently came across another “King” Kelly who was a politician, this one a real person who twice served as the Mayor of Weehawken in the late 19th century. Simon “King” Kelly was born in Ireland in 1848 during the worst years of the Great Irish Famine which likely explains why he immigrated to America
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Simon “King” Kelly of Weehawken Powerful Politician in the late 1800s
Simon “King” Kelly
with his parents within a year after his birth. The Kelly family was living in Hoboken at the time of the 1850 U.S. Census and Simon’s father was listed as a blacksmith. A few years later, the Kellys moved to Weehawken where Simon would live the rest of his life. Cont’d on page 9
Artists and Childhood Friends Exhibit ‘Little Wonders’ at LITM Lounge Gregory Stone and Fermin Mendoza among Artists Exhibiting in Holiday Art Show matchbook cover, Mendoza says, “and my sister did
By Sally Deering
A
rtists Gregory Stone and Fermin Mendoza grew up in West New York and met each other in 1968, two young artists following artistic pursuits through the turbulent 60s. Through the years, Stone and Mendoza remained friends while continuing their artistic journeys and each artist has several works in LITMs 6th annual “Little Wonders” exhibit of small works by many local artists. More than 20 artists’ works – nothing larger than 14 inches – are on sale for the holidays. Stone, an Impressionist who works in several mediums including computer software, has 7 works in “Little Wonders” with titles like “Snow, after the Dogs and Cats get through with It”, “Wedding Ceremony” and “The Crossing Guard.” “I sold a piece at ‘Little Wonders’ an old pencil portrait of me, put color to it on the computer and had it printed on canvas,” Stone says. “It became a totally different piece of art. I refer to it as ‘Mixed Media’. I think if Da Vinci had a computer, he would have used it, too.” Mendoza chose to run with the exhibit’s “Little Wonders” theme and created 10 portraits of music legend Stevie Wonder at different stages of his career. Each is 6 inches-by-6 inches and made with stencil, spray paint, colored pencil and oil paint on corrugated cardboard. Mendoza says he was surprised when some exhibit visitors didn’t know Stevie Wonder, but he takes it as a
the ballerina and I did the Cont’d on page 10
Gregory Stone and Fermin Mendoza, Artists with Works in LITM’s Holiday Art Show “Little Wonders” sign of youth, not relevance. That perspective also applies to exhibiting pieces that were created years back.
Stevie - 9 by Fermin Mendoza “Art is eternal,” Mendoza says. “It doesn’t matter if it’s old it doesn’t matter if it’s new, you can show it now.” LITM, a restaurant/bar/ lounge/gallery on Newark Street in Jersey City opens its walls to artists giving them the opportunity to showcase their work to appreciative audiences. LITM changes exhibits monthly and hosts group and solo shows presented by emerging contemporary artists. Mendoza exhibited at LITM in its 2011 exhibits, “Who” “When” and “Where”.
“I called Gregory and told him ‘you gotta submit a piece’ and he got into the ‘Where’ show, too,” Mendoza says. “I hadn’t shown my work since the 80s,” Stone says. “I had to work; raise two children.” Married 37years, Mendoza also raised two children. He then went back to college and took art classes at the School of Visual Arts in New York. “I went back to my inner child,” Mendoza says, “That’s what you’re creating from.” Stone met Mendoza in 1968, the year Stone graduated from Memorial High School in West New York and Mendoza was entering as a freshman. They both were encouraged by the school’s art teacher Ellen Marchant, who helped Stone get into the Phoenix Art School in New York. She also mentored Mendoza whose art training began with the Famous Artists School that sold correspondence courses in art and advertised on matchbook covers. “They would have a pirate or a dog on the Page 7 - December 18th - December 28th River View Observer
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Hudson Then...Again Simon “King” Kelly Cont’d from page 6 In December 1871, Simon Kelly married his wife Ann at St. Michael’s R.C. Church in Union City. At the time of the 1880 U.S. Census, Simon and Ann and their young children were living on Old Dock Row in Weehawken. Simon Kelly was reportedly active in Weehawken politics beginning as soon as he was first eligible to vote and was a staunch life-long Democrat. At age 22, he held his first elective office, Poormaster, and served in that capacity for three years. Over the ensuing 25 years, he would serve on the Township Committee, as a School Trustee, Fire Chief, Chief of Police, as Mayor of Weehawken twice (18851889 and 1891-1897) and as a Freeholder in the 1890s. No wonder he was dubbed the King of Weehawken! In 1895, a local newspaper carried an article titled “Saint Simon Kelly” with the subtitle “He Made Hundreds of Children at Snake
Hill Happy.” Freeholder Kelly had made a practice of visiting the Almshouse at Snake Hill at Christmas, dressing up as Santa Claus. In support of his disguise, he donned 24-inch stilts making himself quite literally an imposing, largerthan-life Kris Kringle. As he arrived armed with large bags of toys, the children of the Almshouse ran to greet him. Assisted by another Freeholder, Kelly gave each grateful child a toy and a bag filled with candy, nuts and oranges. Kelly was known for his charity and there were many stories of his kindnesses to his constituents and some talk that it came at the expense of his own financial condition. He only lost one election in his 25-year political career, that happening at the end of his long years of service to the people of Weehawken. He then retired and focused his time and efforts on operating the local hotel he had built several years earlier, Kelly’s Point View Hotel at Clifton Park.
RETURNING WITH AN
ALL-NEW SHOW
To Read More “Hudson Then Again” Visit us at www.riverviewobserver.net
Kelly’s Point View Hotel at Clifton Park Simon Kelly, age 52 and seemingly in good health, fell ill with peritonitis in late May 1900 and died within days thereafter at the Point View Hotel where he lived. A headline in a local newspaper announced the death of the “King of Weehawken” recalling his nearly three-decade political career and generosity and kindness to the poor and distressed. Just months after Kelly’s death, the Clifton and Highwood Hose Companies responded to a midnight fire at the Point View and were successful in saving the hotel from destruction as a crowd of prominent Weehawken citizens and officials looked on.
Maureen Wlodarczyk is a fourth-generation-born Jersey City girl and the author of three books about life in Jersey City in the 1800s and early 1900s: Past-Forward: A Three-Decade and Three-ThousandMile Journey Home, Young & Wicked: The Death of a Wayward Girl and Canary in a Cage: The Smith-Bennett Murder Case. For info: www.past-forward.com.
Coming in January
A Taste of Hoboken The annual Hoboken-North Hudson YMCA’s gala fundraiser will be held this year on Tuesday January 22, 2013-6:00 pm until 9:30pm at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken. In addition to tasty bites from over many restaurants, bakeries and cafes, this years event will feature an expanded selection of quality wines from all over the world. Guests will be able to sample beer and wines from around the world. Tickets are available here: http://tasteofhoboken.bpt.me/ ... Tickets online are available until midnight on January 20th - $80.00 Champagne Preview, 6 PM to 7 PM and the $60.00 general admission allows you entry after 7pm. Tickets at the door on January 22nd are $90.00 for the Champagne Preview and $70 general admission. All tickets are fully tax deductible. All entrants are required to have tickets. Minors must be accompanied by an adult. No strollers.
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Artists and Childhood Friends Exhibit ‘Little Wonders’ at LITM Lounge - Cont’d from page 7 the pirate and we both got accepted. My father didn’t want to pay for two courses. ‘I’m paying for one course and you two share the books,’ he told us. Officially it was hers, so every week she had an assignment and after the first couple of months she started missing a week and would say to me, ‘here, you do it.’ I started doing her stuff and she was getting the credit. Then we got a letter from our teacher. ‘What’s wrong? Your style has changed. It’s totally different. Are you under emotional stress?” “I got accepted to it, too,” Stone says. “I was 15 and their rep came to our house on 67th Street, but my parents didn’t have the money to do it.” The two friends went their separate ways, but always stayed in touch. Then a few years back, Stone had an opportunity to show his work at The Coffee Machine coffee house in Ridgefield Park and he asked Mendoza to curate the show. “I said to Greg, ‘Take out 20 paintings and put them against the wall. I chose 13.” Stone sold all 13 paintings. “Every picture I do is the story of my life,” Stone says. “Every picture has a story.” Stone and Mendoza say they’re excited about exhibiting at LITM and the opportunity to connect with other artists in Jersey City, where the art scene has sprung to life.
Applications Available for February Art Exhibit at Bayonne Museum
Gregory Stone’s Snow, after the Dogs and Cats Get Through With It “Jersey City has the third highest artist population,” Mendoza says. “So Gregory and I feel there’s a lot of opportunity there for us to reconnect and resume our artistic pursuits.” If you go: Little Wonders holiday art exhibit and sale LITM 140 Newark Ave Jersey City (201) 536-5557 www.litm.com Hours: Mon-Thu 5 pm - 1 am Fri-Sat 5 pm - 2 am Sun 4 pm - 12 am To view color photos of any of the artwork appearing in this article visit www.riverviewobserver.net
We Support the Arts In Hudson County Since 1998 The River View Observer
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The Art Circle of Bayonne announced that applications are available for artists to exhibit their work February 8 to 15, 2013 at the Bayonne Community Museum. The February show will display the following types of art: photography, mixed media, oil paintings, acrylics, and watercolors. All work submitted must belong to one of the foregoing categories. Applications will be available Monday through Friday, except holidays, at the Bayonne Recreation Division, Room 13, at City Hall, 630 Avenue C, from December 10, 2012, through Friday, January 25, 2013. Participation in the exhibit is open to members of the Art Circle of Bayonne. It is not necessary to be a Bayonne resident to join the organization. Membership in the Art Circle is available for $25 per year. To join the Art Circle, please send an e-mail to info.artcircle@yahoo.com. This will be the first art show at the museum in 2013. Two exhibits that were slated for late 2012 did not take place, due to Hurricane Sandy.
HOLY CROSS
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340 Ridge Road, North Arlington, NJ 07031 888-467-8903 www.RCANCEM.org When Dad passed away, it was such a huge and sudden blow to our entire family! He was always there for all of us! No matter what the circumstance, Dad always knew what to do. Looking back now, it should not have been such a surprise when Mom told us that she and Dad went to the Cemetery years ago to plan. Mom said that Dad never wanted us to have to worry about such difficult things.
Thank you Dad for always taking care of us! Merry Christmas!
Give the gift of pre-planning to your loved this holiday season! Stop by for information. No obligation & No appointment necessary. Easy monthly payment plans available for all budgets.
T h e H ol i d ay s a r e a t i m e f or g i v i n g
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS FOOD & W I N T E R C O AT C O L L E C T I O N We will be accepting winter coats & any non-perishable food items for distribution to the local food pantries to those less fortunate people in the Archdiocese.
“ Giving in honor of our deceased loved ones is a Mitzvah� Your donations may be dropped off during business hours in the offices of all Archdiocesan Cemeteries and Mausoleums between Monday, December 3rd and Thursday, January 3rd
Pre-planning will eliminate the trauma of being forced into making a stressful decision at the time of a loss. Stop by or call today for more information and Peace of Mind! Catholics celebrate the funeral rites to offer worship, praise, and thanksgiving to God for the gift of life... Page 11 -December 18th-December 28th River View Observer
Wishing Everyone Happy Holiday’s and a Healthy, Safe and Successful New Year -The River View Team
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River View Observer
Remembering those Who were Homeless National Homeless Memorial Day is December 21, the first day of winter and the longest night of the year. A coalition led by Garden State Episcopal Community Development Corp. (GSECDC) will hold Hudson County’s Fourth Annual Homeless Persons’ Memorial Day commemoration on Fri, Dec. 21 at 1 pm. The Inter-Faith Service will honor the memory of homeless neighbors, friends and loved ones who passed away from causes related to homelessness. This is also one way of helping to raise awareness that people are still living and dying on the street and that more is needed to assist the survivors. The service will take place at Church of the Incarnation, 68 Storms Avenue, in Jersey City. Everyone is invited to attend and share remembrances. In addition, assistance would be appreciated in any of the following ways:
The service will take place at Church of the Incarnation, 68 Storms Avenue, in Jersey City. Everyone is invited to attend and share remembrances. In addition, assistance would be appreciated in any of the following ways: •Forward names of deceased homeless individuals. •Hold Winter Warmth Drives to gather contributions of warm SOCKS, THERMALS (bottoms), HATS, GLOVES and SCARVES to be distributed to homeless people. •Bake and bring COOKIES for the reception and bagged meals. •On Fri, Dec. 21, from 9 am to 3 pm, help make sandwiches, bag meals and make gift bags •Invite homeless neighbors and friends to attend. •Spread the word about the Memorial Service via any and all social media, email, Twitter, Facebook, etc. Anyone who may be able to participate, a little or alot is urged to contact GSECDC, at volunteer@gsecdc.org, or call 201-209-9301.
The Murder Mystery Company Presents: “Murder at the Masquerade” The Murder Mystery Company, the nation’s number one interactive theater troupe, kicks of their upcoming fall season with their award winning show,
“Murder at the Masquerade”. Welcome to The Billionaires’ Club’s annual Masquerade Ball; an evening in which anybody can
be somebody else! Prepare for a night of Mystery, Intrigue and Murder! Which suspect has murder on their mind? In a room full of masked men, how will you find the true killer? For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit our website @ http://www. grimprov.com/MurderMystery-Dinner-New-Jersey-Manhattan or call us at (888) 643-2583 and talk to one of our skilled detectives today!! December, 21th @ 7:30pm December, 22nd @ 7:30pm December, 28th @ 7:30pm December, 29th @ 7:30pm January, 5th @ 7:30pm January, 12th @ 7:30pm All shows are held at: Sanai’s 510 Summit Ave. Jersey City, NJ 07306
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Page 15 December 18th -December 28th River View Observer
Holiday Wine Traditions and Recipes (Family Features) The holidays are the quintessential time to both enjoy and share wine. In fact, the right wine adds elegance to any holiday occasion and plays an important role as a gift, an entertaining staple, and a key recipe ingredient for celebration dishes throughout the season. “For my grandfather, my father, and for me, wine has always been a way of life in our family,” said Mike Martini, third-generation winemaker for Louis M. Martini Winery, established nearly 80 years ago in the heart of California’s Napa Valley. “Special occasions are invitations to open special bottles of wine with great friends. We usually share our Christmas with friends and family, and everybody contributes wine, so it is like a big tasting session with food. It is the most significant thing that occurs other than giving thanks for a wonderful life.” To help you choose a wine to celebrate the season, Mike suggests a selection from the Martini family’s ultimate Christmas Cab Collection: the Sonoma County Cabernet Sauvignon, a perfect pairing for casual holiday get-togethers; the Napa Valley Cabernet, for more formal holiday gatherings; or the Monte Rosso Cabernet, for going all-out with an extra special bottle of wine. Wine also adds rich flavor to holiday recipes. This recipe for Cabernet Gravy starts with a classic gravy,
which should be made the day ahead of when it will be served. By cooking it down and letting it sit overnight, the flavors will marry together. Once the base is done, it can be flavored and customized easily; so easy in fact that you can make more than one to satisfy all palates at your table. For more Martini Family recipes and wine pairing suggestions visit www. LouisMartini.com, or www. Facebook.com/LouisMartiniWinery. Basic Gravy 1 cup stock, cooled 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons flour Note: Make proportionally to the desired amount. For example, if you need six cups of basic gravy, start with eight cups of stock, 1 1/4 cups each of butter and flour. In heavy sauce pan, melt butter and add flour. Being careful not to burn flour, stir continuously and cook for 10 to 15 minutes until it is a deep chestnut color. The darker it becomes, the more depth of flavor will develop. Whisk in cold stock, bring to a simmer. Once it has reduced to the desired consistency, season to taste and store overnight in the refrigerator. Gravy Tips: • If your gravy is too salty, add a 1/4 teaspoon of vinegar or a pinch of brown sugar. • To minimize lumps, use a handy immersion blender to smooth texture. • If your gravy is too thick, whisk in additional stock. Or if too thin, reduce over heat until it is the desired consistency. Cabernet Gravy 3 cups Basic Gravy 1 cup Louis M. Sauvignon
Martini Napa Valley Cabernet 2 tablespoons green peppercorns in brine Black pepper to taste Bring basic gravy to a simmer, whisking in wine. Add peppercorns and black pepper to taste. Simmer, stirring frequently, until the gravy reaches desired consistency. California Table Wine, © 2012 Louis M. Martini Winery, St. Helena, CA. All rights reserved.
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restaurant VIEWS - Copacabana Grill Copacabana Grill mingles Italian and Brazilian Cuisine in a Hip, Romantic Setting By Sally Deering
W
hether you’re looking for a cozy place for lunch, a hip hangout for drinks after work or a romantic dinner with that special date, the Copacabana Grill in Bayonne has it all for you – Italian and Brazilian Cuisine served in a cool and romantic setting. Bayonne is a city of many great restaurants and the Copacabana Grill is a hip little eatery on Broadway, off 11th Street. Enter the non-descript white storefront and you’re instantly transported into a low-lit
sleek and sexy bar with dark wood tables and luxurious matching chairs. In the back of the room, a mini staircase leads to a beautiful, romantic dining room. Formerly The Liquid Lounge, owner Luigy Rivas changed more than just the name. With the help of his staff, Rivas renovated, designed and decorated the restaurant, giving the place a totally new interior and vibe. “We worked on this place so many nights,” Rivas says, taking a break from the reservation desk to enjoy a cup of tea. “We wanted it to be cozy, warm,
Owner Luigy Rivas (center) surrounded by his staff romantic. The room upstairs is fancier and down here at the bar, it’s more casual.” Before becoming a restaurateur, Rivas worked his way up in the restaurant industry first as dishwasher, then busboy, cook, waiter and manager. “I used to work in New York City then I decided to open my own place,” Rivas says. “It’s not that easy. You have to give it your all. But if you have good food, people come back.”
And to ensure Copacabana’s steaks, chops, chicken, pastas and seafood are bringing in the customers, Luigy’s brother Chef Frank Rivas runs the kitchen. “Frank worked over 20 years in the kitchen,” Rivas says. “He has the experience.” Copacabana Grill’s menu features Appetizers, Salads, Soups, Chicken, Pasta, Steak and Fish dishes. The House specialty is
Rodizio, a sampling of 8-10 different meats served on a sword right at the table. Patrons choose the meats they want and the waiter slides the meat off the sword and onto the plate. (This is only served on weekends and it’s all you can eat for $28.) Appetizers include Cold Antipasto, Fried Zucchini, Mussels with White Wine or Red Sauce and Brazilian Sausage served with Yucca in Red Sauce ($8-$11); Salads feature the Copacabana – Mixed Greens, Red Pepper, Red Onion, Tomato, Gorgonzola Cheese and Balsamic dressing; and the Rio – Arugula, Endive, Radicchio, Red Onion, Tomato, Rodizio meats and Lemon dressing. Chicken and Duck dishes include the Breaded Chicken Cutlet serviced with Fruit Salad; Breast of Duck in an Orange Sweet Sauce served with Apples and Potatoes; and Breast of Chicken Cont’d on page 18
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restaurant VIEWS
Copacabana Grill & Restaurant Cont’d from page 17 Martini Style (encrusted in parmesan cheese) with Lemon-White Wine Sauce ($14-$19). I tried the Chicken Martini Style and the chicken was tender and moist; the parmesan cheese crust added a terrific flavor to the chicken and the Lemon-White Wine sauce complemented it all perfectly The dish was accompanied by Focaccia rolls that were warm and yummy. For pasta lovers, Copacabana Grill serves several dishes including Pasta Synfonia, a combination of four pasta bowls of Penne Vodka; Spaghetti with Broccoli, Garlic and Oil; Penne Bolognese and Orichette Carbonara ($18). Steak dishes include Sirloin Steak, Filet Mignon and Churasco – skirt steak served with rice and beans and egg ($22-$25). Fish dishes feature Grilled Salmon marinated in Olive Oil and Dill; Tuna sautéed with Capers, Sun-dried
Delicious dishes and drinks in a hip, cozy and romantic setting – Copacabana Grill offers iguests the perfect setting for a great evening out.
Copacabana’s beautiful upstairs dining room Tomatoes and Lemon and White Wine Sauce; and Sautéed Shrimp served with Puree of Pumpkin and Coconut Milk over Rice ($$17$20). The Sautéed Shrimp with Puree of Pumpkin and Coconut Milk was absolutely delicious – the shrimp plump and succulent; the sauce divine. Copacabana Grill makes its own desserts on premise and the Brazilian Tiramisu is always a sellout, Rivas
says. Rivas opened Copacabana Grill just five months ago and already the restaurant has become a Bayonne hotspot. New Year’s Eve is right around the corner and Copacabana Grill will be hosting its first New Year’s Eve Party featuring a threecourse dinner, coffee and dessert; and an open bar with DJ Kenny D spinning tunes. ($89 per person)
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If you go: Copacabana Grill 269 Broadway Bayonne (201) 443-2347 Dining Hours*: Tues-Thurs: 11 am-10 pm Fri, Sat: 11 am-11 pm Sun: 11 am-10 pm (*Bar stays open later)
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MIKE MARINO CHRISTMAS COMEDY EVENT 9pm-12am Friday and Saturday December 21st & December 22nd
New Jersey’s Bad Boy of Comedy Mike Marino will be back in the Garden State for the weekend at Uncle Vinnie’s Comedy Club 520 Arnold Ave. Point Pleasant NJ 732-899-3900 Marino formerly of Jersey City and who now lives in Los Angeles can be found performing in
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River View Observer
Atlantic City and other Venues around the state. He has performed in every major comedy club from New York to Los Angeles including: The MGM Grand, Catch a Rising Star, The Comic Strip, Stand Up NY, The Improv, Rascals and The Icehouse. Mike, who has worked with some of the biggest names in the business, can be seen nightly as a top headliner at both the world famous Laugh Factory and The Comedy Store in Hollywood. Mike has appeared in over 200 national television commercials, and has received a Best Actor Clio Award
Nomination. He has acted in many Prime Time soaps and television shows including: As the World Turns, One Life to Live, Becker, Nikki, Frasier and Party of Five. His film credits include Crooks, Pizza with Bullets, Hangin’ in Hedo and Steven King’s Lucky Quarter. For tickets and details as well as dinner packages, log on to www.unclevinniescomedyclub.com or call 732-899-3900 $20 per person or $10 per person if you bring a toy to donate to Toys for Tots
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