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

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.

So who wants some sort of meet up next month or so? Now that I am soon to be UNEMPLOYED I will have weekends off!

I'd be up for it it -- a mini FAP or FAC(offee) or something like that.

a JERSEY CITY or a HOBOKEN fap?!?

By the way, breakfasts at Kitchen Cafe are very, very good. And sometimes if the chef is feeling generous at dinner they'll make fresh potato chips as the daily special. Like, thick-cut, fresh-out-of-the-fryer chips. Never tasted the like.

But please, please behave yourselves and tip well (I'm friends with most of the waitstaff).

Also, I would be delighted to come to a JC FAP where I could SMOKE AND DRINK SIMULTANEOUSLY. Imagine that. But where??

Oh yeah, Kitchen Cafe is good.

I'm curious to try the new wine bar on Grove. I hear it's good.

kitchen cafe is a GO if anyone wants to -- it's not that far from exchange place, right?!?

It's v close to Exchange, but they don't serve any alkyhol there, Tad, and there's no smoking. So, no. Unless you're talking about a brunch meet-up in which case count me out; I love JC but these days I don't take the PATH before 2pm.

Fuck, does anyone live near where this fire is happening?

http://1010wins.com/topstories/local_story_215171617.html

I'm all about trying new bidnisses, and we recently got two might good ones:

1) Legal Grounds (Grand St. btw. Marin and Warren) - This guy roasts his own coffee beans on the premises. Best coffee in town, hands down.

2) Janam Tea (Manilla, one block from First St.) - This girl imports and blends her own teas. Plus they have a sweet super-deluxe scrabble board. Anyone up for scrabble?

How long is the PATH ride from Journal Sq to midtown?

15-17 minutes?

From JSQ all the way to 33rd might be like 20 mins.

22 mins exactly according to the PATH timetables.

Was down at the Post Office on Montgomery yesterday and afterwards stopped by The Merchant for a beer. Best tap pint I've had in ages. Seriously. It was super clean and fresh tasting. I've never savored a pint of beer for 45 minutes in my life! New favorite afternoon bar.

Did I miss th' fap?

The Merchant ain't bad. That wine bar (The Majestic) next door is pretty nice too.

Oh yeah, another food thing:

Edward's Steakhouse sucks. I asked for my Sirloin Steak medium rare and they burned it. Considering it was the most I ever paid for a steak ($30) I expected a little better.

Whoever's around tomorrow afternoon -- wanna meet up for Happy Hour?

Hmm, could do. I'm supposed to be at birthday drinks for someone, but that's flexible. Where do you suggest? I'm not sure where to gather, now that we're sans Uncl3 J03's. Lucky 7s?