3/18/2010:

That pesky “tube!”

Many Hoboken411 readers suffered some agonizing bus commutes this morning:

“Waited 45 minutes this moring at the 14th and Bloomfield stop before taking the ferry to work. Not one 126 NYC bound bus passed from 8 am until 8:30 while many buses were running in the other direction. Between 8:30 and. 8:45 two completely full 126 buses passes the stop.”

Well – that’s because there was a disabled vehicle in the Lincoln Tunnel this morning – causing even some New Jersey buses to be diverted to the Secaucus Junction for rail service to NY Penn Station.

Which is why you should all sign up at NJTransit.com for alerts!

Technorati Tags: bus, Commuting, Delay, Hoboken, Lincoln Tunnel, New Jersey, NJ, NJ transit

2/11/2010:

The Readers’ Circle book group meets the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:00pm in the comfortable and spacious Muller Room of All Saints, 701 Washington Street, in Hoboken. All book lovers are welcome. Bring a friend. Free coffee and cake is served. For more info write readerscircle123@aol.com.

The Reader – by Bernhard Schlink

On Thursday, March 18th, the group will meet and discuss the book The Reader by Bernhard Schlink.

Technorati Tags: 701 Washington, All Saints, Bernhard Schlink, Book Club, book group, Hoboken, Mr. Ives' Christmas, New Jersey, NJ, Oscar Hijuelos, Readers Circle, reading, The Reader

3/17/2010:

Stevens Student starts free bike exchange program

Stevens Institute of Technology Freshman Owen Jappen created a new Bike Exchange Project for campus students this year. He says:

“We are looking for assistance in getting our unique initiative up and running by accruing unwanted/unneeded bikes. Our program will allow students the free use of bicycles as a mode of transport across campus, Hoboken and the surrounding area. Operating on an honor policy, users will be trusted to return the bikes to one of the designated racks, be it on or off campus, for continued stability of the program.

Presently, we are in the process of building our first fleet; which is being erected solely on donations. Promoting bikes as a method of transportation is a popular and rising movement, especially in urban areas. Aside from its obvious environmental friendliness and health benefits, biking is also important to reducing congestion on streets, such as Hoboken. This program represents another step in the progress of a global movement. A large portion of Europe has already embraced identical systems on national scales.

Any aid you could lend in furthering our cause would be greatly appreciated. We accept bikes in any condition (as well as parts) and are willing to perform repairs by any means at our disposal. If you have any questions or are interested in lending assistance, feel free to contact me at ojappen@stevens.edu.“

“HoBiken” already exists in Hoboken

Here’s an example of the European type system that I mentioned on Hoboken411 a year ago (which is pay system – not free).

And since Owen is just a freshman and may not be aware, I told him about HoBiken – which is an exact same system that Symposia Bookstore has been doing for years. Never really took off as a massively accepted program, because face it – people here in Hoboken love their cars, and there’s only a small percentage of residents that will take this path. Furthermore – biking in Hoboken is no fun task with all the horrible potholes – and minimal bike racks. Since no place in town is more than a 15 minute walk at most, it’s just one less thing to be hassled by.

Lastly – since Hoboken involves traveling to and from many bars – riding a bicycle drunk is quite possibly one of the hardest ways to travel!

Good luck regardless, Owen – and keep the “good” ideas coming!

Technorati Tags: Bicycle, bike exchange, bikes, Community, Commuting, Eco-Friendly, environment, Green, Hoboken, Honor Sytem, New Jersey, NJ, Stevens Insititute, travel

3/17/2010 Update:

Since Hoboken411 became the de facto community site in the Mile Square four years ago – I’ve been telling everyone to remove all tell-tale signs that any valuables are in your car. That it just begs a burglar to disrupt your life with stolen items, damaged property and annoying insurance procedures. GPS theft happens on a weekly basis here in Hoboken.

Well today, Hoboken resident Catherine tells a humorous story of her recent car burglary situation. Glad to see she found a lighter way to deal with the circumstance!

Wipe the GPS circles, damnit!

“so, i wake up this morning, in a relatively good mood and i leave my apartment at 6:14, a whole minute early. i walk to my car and i see the dunkin’ donuts cup i left in my cupholder on the drivers side floor. i think to myself, wow, it mustve been windy [insert laugh here, i realize how retarded my thought process was], and then i go to unlock my door and its not locked, so i think to myself, great catherine, your forgot to lock your car. and then i got in.

needless to say, you probably know where this is going, my car was broken into by hobokens finest. they took all my quarters for tanning [to be expected], the skirt i was going to return [thank god i got it on sale], my ipod fm tuner [not too bad, considering it doesnt charge the newest ipod], but the biggest kick in the ball – my gps – which is all of three months old. of course they probably saw the suction circles on the window that my dad says to clean because people look for that [of course i didnt], and it was in my glove box which my ex always said to lock because ‘jerseys not like your town catherine” [of course, im stubborn and i never do]. aye.

on a humorous note, they also stole my spare brush and all my pens, and the random garbage that was in there [free car cleaning!]. additionally, they took my hot pink dust pan [which some of you know is actually my window scraper and a shovel to dig my car out when it snows] – good thing blizzard season is over! they did leave my ezpass [guess they dont like the bridges and tunnels] and my guidebook to long island restaurants!

anyways, thought this might make you laugh… and really, clean the stupid circles off the window!”

SEE ORIGINAL HOBOKEN411 POST AFTER THE JUMP…

[Click to continue reading the rest....]

Technorati Tags: auto, burglary, car, Car Theft, common sense, Crime Prevention, crimes, GPS, Hoboken, iPod, Markings, New Jersey, NJ, safety, Suction Cup, tips, Tricks

3/17/2010:

With another marathon council meeting this evening (stay tuned for the preview you won’t want to miss) – we’ll start of this O’Hump Day on a lighter note.

Happy (real) St. Patrick’s Day!

Now that the Hoboken version of the St. Patrick’s Day celebration is far behind us – the real St. Patrick’s Day may seem like a let-down for the amateurs – but the hard core folks take this day seriously!

What do you do on March 17th each year?

St. Patrick's Day 2010, I will: Do nothing - just a regular Wednesday. Wear a token green item like most people. Get totally decked in green. Get drunk today! Get so drunk that I already took Thursday off. I drink every day - nothing special about today. I'm in IRELAND now! Beat that, suckers! View Results  Loading ...

Have a safe day whatever you decide to do!

Are you a clock slacker?

Well I am – if it wasn’t for the clocks that set themselves (like your PC or some cell phones), I’d still be in Eastern Standard Time now. Yep, Daylight Savings Time started this past weekend, and I still have a lot of work to do!

So let this serve as a friendly reminder to set the rest of your clocks (TV, microwave, car, watches, etc.)

Finally – a great weather week!

Hope everyone gets to enjoy the weather this week – as spring is right around the corner, and giving us a sneak preview of what’s to come this year.

Spring officially starts on Saturday, March 20th at precisely 1:32pm.

Technorati Tags: 2010, Daylight Savings Time, Hoboken, March 17, New Jersey, News, NJ, Spring, St. Patricks Day, Update, Weather

3/16/2010:

A fun (and sweet) event on March 18th at 6pm at the Hoboken Public Library (5th and Park)!

The New Taste of Chocolate

Presented by Chef Maricel Presilla

Culinary historian Maricel Presilla, the chef and co-owner of Zafra and Cucharamama, two pan-Latin restaurants in Hoboken New Jersey, will discuss the second edition of her book The New Taste of Chocolate: A Cultural and Natural History of Cacao with Recipes (Ten Speed, 2009). Presilla writes extensively about cacao and chocolate and is the president of a Gran Cacao Company, a company specializing in heirloom cacao beans trade. She is a food columnist for the Miami Herald and her food articles about many aspects of Latin America culture and food have been published by Gourmet Magazine, Food and Wine, Foods Arts and other major food publications. She has repeatedly been nominated as best chef of the Mid-Atlantic region by the James Beard Foundation. Last October she was invited by first lady Michelle Obama to cook at the White House for 400 guests on the occasion of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Presilla will discuss the latest trends on chocolate and cacao research through images and will offer a tasting of some of the country’s best artisanal new chocolates as well as the collection of Latin American-inspired chocolate truffles that she now sells at her new Latin kitchen market Ultramarinos, also in Hoboken. She will also serve Latin American savory foods laced with chocolate and cacao and hot chocolate.

Copies of her latest chocolate book will be available for sale and signing

Technorati Tags: Book, Cucharamama, Hoboken, Hoboken Public Library, Maricel Presilla, New Jersey, NJ, Speaker, the new taste of chocolate, Zafra

3/16/2010:

Chamber Music in Hoboken

“Two Chicks and a ‘Cellist,” an ensemble in residence at The Hudson School, present a family chamber music concert on Sunday, March 21, at 3 PM and at 5 PM at The Hudson School, 601 Park Avenue, Hoboken, NJ. The concert, entitled “Bring Your Own Beethoven!,” will include Beethoven’s “Ghost Trio,” and duos for violin and piano, and ‘cello and piano. Special guest will be Woody Proctor, an actor, and a student at The Hudson School, reading Beethoven’s famous “Heiligenstadt Testament,” a poignant and touching letter Beethoven wrote to his brothers when he was still a young man, realizing he was going to grow progressively and profoundly deaf.

“Two Chicks and a ‘Cellist” was created to bring the hands on music experience to students in schools, and as a community outreach. In addition to its family concerts, the group presents special short and varied programs to school students to give them a taste of all kinds of music and to involve them actively in the performing experience.

Ticket prices for this concert are $15 general admission, 1/2 price for students and seniors. For information and reservations please call 201-239-1890.

Read more on their website: http://www.twochicksandacellist.com/

Technorati Tags: Chamber Music, Hoboken, Hudson School, New Jersey, NJ, Two Chicks and a Cellist

3/16/2010:

Alcohol-infused fundraiser for Cancer this week at Trinity.

“Drink for Pink” at Trinity Hoboken

“Join us in supporting the fight against breast cancer! As our third annual Race for the Cure approaches, we need your help. We are hoping to raise awareness and funds on Thursday, March 18th at TRINITY in Hoboken by asking that you make a $10 donation to Komen for the Cure North Jersey on the night of the event. Between 6 and 7 PM, there will be $3 drafts and $5 cosmos, appletinis, and house wine. We will also provide information on how to register for the Race if you aren’t planning on doing so already as well as having laptops on site to take care of your registration for you. Ten percent of sales from the night of the event will benefit our organization.”

Date: Thursday, March 18, 2010
Time: 6 PM
Location: Trinity – 306 Sinatra Drive, Hoboken
Cost: $10 suggested donation

You wonder if a liver disease fundraiser is ever held at a bar?

Technorati Tags: Cancer, Fundraiser, Hoboken, New Jersey, NJ, Pink, Race for the Cure, Susan G. Komen, Trinity