Isn't it time we had a Jersey City thread?

There was this one:

defend the indefensible: new jersey

yeah, but thats a different kind of thread. you have to defend jersey on that one. here, there's no need to defend. its all appreciation and good vibes.

we can ask things like, "whats your favorite mall?"

I have something to say. Marco & Pepe is wack. I've eaten there a couple of times, it was always ok but a little disappointing, and tonight was the corker.

My $10 burger was over-charred on the outside, and you idjuts even burned the bun! Maybe that's why it took so long -- you forgot it on the grill. Spinach was way too oily. Cake was dry and boring. Lavazza coffee is not worth $2. And that little cheese sample you passed out tasted like kraft parmesan. The steak and fish I've had have been mediocre. The mac and cheese and the chocolate torte are the only things I've ever been satisfied with. Way overpriced -- there are about 10,000 better meals to be had for the money in the area.

ps A friend of mine refers to the new coffee place across the street as "Marco & Pepe Lite" which is OTMFM.

xxxxxxxxxxpost: The heartbreak was about a job I lusted for that I don't think I got.
Hurting, again, you're working on my block. Dins was Shrimp creole, yams and mac from the Comfort again. I always seem to be eating there when this thread comes up. Creepy.

I almost went to Comfort instead -- wish we did. Shrimp Creole is the bomb.

At least M&P has a good beer selection.

I agree on the fact that it's too expensive.

If everything was like 20% cheaper it'd be a charming little place with decent food. But it's overpriced for what it is and the food is not that special.

Where is Comfort located, guys? Think I'll check it out tomorrow.

Grove Street. Between Montgomery and something else I think? It's a basement restaurant, so it's easy to miss.

What's the Vietnamese place on Bergen called? I'll probably try that next.

Pho Thang Long. Get there soon, though, because I think their quality's slipping.

Twixt Montgomery and Wayne, on Grove, across the street from the mosque.

Oh yeah, and make sure you don't mistakenly go to Comfort BISTRO on Washington Blvd. That's a totally different animal.

Thanks! Looking forward to Shrimp Creole & Mac/Cheese.

Speaking of the waterfront -- there's a storefront by newport that says something about a video store called "Kim's" coming soon. Anyone know if this is connected to Kim's Underground in NYC?

Incidentally, I'd recommend the scampi over the creole. And get the red velvet cake if they have it!

Well, I'd recommend the apple cobler over the red velvet cake, while we're at it.

Hurting, are you a Pink Teacup fan? I prefer them, really.

Sorry?

The Pink Teacup.
My fave soul food in the city, but then I never get up to Harlem, so...

Oh snap. I'll have to try that.

I never bothered to make the trip to Sylvia's. I kind of doubt it's been able to maintain quality while becoming such a brand name.

In business for 50 Years plus.
The walls are COVERED in autographed celebrity photos, many of the antique variety; the jukebox has lotsa Prince, Stevie and Marvin Gaye; the sweet potato pie is fuckin' great; the food is cheap; the chicken is kickin'; they gots pigs feet; the bathroom is accessible through what amounts to a batpole... it's got it all!

Named the third-happiest American city... by Men's Health:

http://www.menshealth.com/cda/article/0,2823,s1-3-194-0-2358,00.html

What's the name of that cavernous Chinese restaurant from the '20s? I went to a party there -- food was nuthin special, but what ambience.

third happiest and 11th sexiest!

How odd.

That other "comfort" resturaunt has already shut down - they didn't last six months. And yeah, according to jclist that is going to be a Kim's Video.

SWEET!

Has anyone seen this magazine/journal called "Take"? It's realatively new -- the issue I have says volume one, issue two. Surprisingy good for a local mag -- miles above Chilltown for sure. The issue includes a fairly well-researched explanation of how public housing project towers came to be (though it kind of fails at its mission to actually tell us something about the ones in Jersey City), an excellent feature/explanation of the architectural styles found in JC houses, a visual essay by a pretty interesting local artist, some mediocre poems, some nice photos, and a "memoir" which I didn't bother to read. The design and layout are quite good.

"Surprisingly" rather.

Dude, we really should meet up Hurting; you clearly live down the street from me. You don't play ball do ya? I'm looking for somebody to throw down some hoops...

I do not. I wish I did, but I haven't played in about 10 years. I'm in bad shape, and I'd embarass not only myself but everyone in sighting distance.

That said, we should meet up. We should go to Comfort or some other local place -- maybe the Vietnamese place recommended above. My girlfriend and I are somewhat attached at the hip lately, but I don't think we're too cutesy and annoying to hang out with if you don't mind going with both of us.

We're going to throw a big party/art show/music thing sometime in June -- I'll definitely give you, and everyone else here, the heads up.

Oh, actually, if you want to meet up, I think my friend's band is playing at Uncle Joe's tomorrow night. Her name is Kate Sikora, and I think her band is called Red Sonja now, though she was uncertain about it. I'll try to find the info.

Red Sonja on first, 9:30 pm $5, other two bands are The Spaces In Between and The Multi-Purpose Solution. Terrible, terrible names, but I don't know the bands. We could always go somewhere else if it's lame.

My girlfriend is also joined at the hip, but she's a WFMU geek; I imagine she'll get along just fine. We're thinkin' about doin' Hitchhikers tomorrow night; I'm headed to the Met to see the Max Ernst exhibition during the day. So Metropolitan.
Dude, I can take that spare tire off. Could use a training partner...
In any case, I'll holla atcha. Hit me up on the email, eh?

I am seriously considering moving here. I work in Newark and currently live in NYC. I hate how fucking expensive it is (especially the fucking food. Ever buy bread here? God damn), and I've head Hoboken isn't much better price wise so so so so what say you? Is it worth it? Is it fun? Good places to live?

I've been here since September. I'll do the best to give you the lowedown. It's still cheaper than Hoboken, and the closeness to NYC is VERY convenient -- in that sense it's not much different than living in Brooklyn, and the PATH is cheaper than the Subway.

I live downtown, which is the most expensive part (and closest to NYC), but I have sort of a lucky deal. Apartments in this part of town are still cheaper than Hoboken to rent, but not always cheap. You can find a deal sometimes if you walk the streets and look for something being rented by some old owner who doesn't care or isn't up on the times. Friends of ours have a one bedroom for 900 in this area, and I've seen occasional two-bedrooms for under $1400, but usually that or more.

We live by the Grove St. and Pavonia PATH stops. The next one further in is Journal Square. I don't know that area as well, but I think there are some nice places and it's a little cheaper than downtown. There's a nice little Indian district near there.

I can't say Jersey City is as alive as Williamsburg or Park Slope. There are a few bars I go to but nothing I love. Uncle Joe's is the only place that really has bands. There does seem to be a Jersey City "scene" that I'm not really part of -- people who have been here a lot longer than I have. Even since I've been here, I've seen the downtown start to get more gentrified. There are a few very good restaurants both on the cheap ethnic end and the nice end.

I think it's still up in the air whether JC develops into some kind of thriving, fun, artsy place or just a yuppie bedroom community, but there are still a lot of people here trying to make the former happen. Worst comes to worst, you can always go to NYC, which we do pretty much every weekend.

I'd offer half of my two bedroom for seven hundred flat, utilities included for somebody who's planning on spending most of their time in the city.
I live where Hurting lives; the apartments incredible, enquire within.
yeah yeah i know ILM != craigslist, but I'd prefer an ilxor...

ALERT! Uncle Joe's is Closed for Good!! (Nooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!)

It is indeed. I was there for the last night and drank some free whiskey. Fight For Your Right To Party never sounded so poignant before (or for that matter, poignant at all.)

I didn't hear about it until this morning (and I didn't see the other thread first, hence my redundant post above - sorry about that) so I missed the big goodbye. I hope they are willing and able to re-open somewhere else - any news on that front?

oh, wait, AND I missed free whiskey - jeesus, this really hurts!

The bartender told me they're "looking for another location." I've heard that one before, hence the quotes. They did say they'd at least look into the old Rascal's location, but my guess is that it's too expensive. I'm also not sure whether or not they can transfer their liquor license to another place. Jersey City = shitty town for bars.

forksclove are you just subletting it for the summer or renting it out? if the former, i might be interested

There's a new burrito place called Buddy's on Jersey Ave. somewhere around Grand. I've long felt that Jersey City needs a good burrito place, but this one doesn't quite deliver.

I ordered a spicy blackened chicken burrito, which, first of all, was overpriced at $7.50. The ingredients themselves were very fresh and tasty, so I think the place has potential, but the burrito was too bland. The "blackened chicken" was actually just plain grilled chicken. The rice and black beans were very good, but mild, and the only thing making it spicy was some pieces of jalapeno. No sour cream, pico, cheese, or anything else really to add flavor. Order also took a shitload of time, but I think they were struggling to fill a huge group order for a school Cinco De Mayo program.

Dude, I'm a little bummed about Jersey City lately. I've been here seven or eight months now. Haven't really met folks, and there have been a couple of major developments for the worse -- 111 First St. getting shut down, Uncle Joe's closing. It feels like there's nowhere to hang out, the streets are dead.

I used to hate Williamsburg because it's so fucking trendy, but I was there last night and I was honestly just happy to see people my age flooding the streets. At least there is some life there.

A couple of food updates:

1) Rachel, the new place on Grove, is pretty good and has very pleasant atmosphere. Sort of Israeli/Mid-East food -- mainly sandwiches, salads, hummus type stuff, etc. Excellent mint lemonade.

2) We went to Comfort a couple days ago and it was downright nasty. I don't know what happened, but the quality had sharply dropped.