12/31/2007 Update #2:

No fireworks this year, DAMNIT! If I would have known, I would have ordered a New Year’s Eve massage instead! Gripes!

12/31/2007:

The slight lull in posting activity on 411 at the end of each year is very short-lived, but I’m loving the extra time I have. And I’m also happy I don’t have any complicated plans for tonight. Just winging it! Life is so much easier when it’s simple, isn’t it?

What about everyone else? Hope everyone enjoys the night, regardless of your destination.

See you again in 2008!

12/17/2007:

With New Year’s Eve 2007 two weeks away, have you made your plans yet? Or are you going to wing it? House party, formal event, local Hoboken bars, or New York City?

Here I’m trying to compile a list of all the places in Hoboken that have something going on. Be sure to check around if anything changes, and let me know if I forgot anything. This list will gradually change over the days leading to NYE. Feel free to look over the list to see what looks like a good deal, and what looks like a total rip-off.

Take the annual poll here, and SEE THE COMPLETE LIST AFTER THE JUMP!

[Click to continue reading the rest….]

12/31/2007:

It’s been over two months since the last city offender zone entry about government vehicles breaking the laws they’re supposed to uphold.

So just in time for the new year, Hoboken411 reader Tim, sends these photos taken last week. Like I’ve said before, I have no problem with police or fire vehicles parking anywhere they need to, provided they’re on an official call. Tim doesn’t think this was an official call.

“Just wanted to share these pics I took of one of the worst police car parking jobs I’ve ever seen. These were taken on 12/26 on 4th Street. The cop car was parked a good 4 feet from the curb and making it extremely difficult for others to drive around. I can’t say how long he was parked like this, but it was at least 30 minutes as I walked by it both on my way to and back from Qdoba.”

12/31/2007:

I forgot to mention this incident that occurred at one of the Curling Club buildings last night around 8:00pm.

Apparently, a man entered a woman’s apartment and ran when she saw him. Was her door unlocked and this was just a case of “wrong apartment,” or was it breaking and entering and attempted robbery?

Either way, the police were called and the woman was very shaken up by it.

12/30/2007:

Another week (and year) in the books.

In the past, I typically didn’t give New Year’s Day any real significance and just called it “another day.” However, as humans tend to compartmentalize, I can finally see the importance of how a year can provide opportunity for reflection and positive change. Took me long enough. How do you view the new year?

On top of our usual arts festivals and domestic holidays, here are some 2008 dates I find interesting (according to Chinese astrology: “The Year of the Rat”):

• 2/3- Super Bowl (will the Pats complete their perfect season?);
• 3/1- Hoboken St. Patty’s Day (how much will the city earn this time?);
• September/October- The Mets & Yankees play their last games at their respective stadiums - catch at least one game at each!;
• 11/4- The Presidential Election;
• 12/30- The Burj Dubai, the tallest building and free-standing man-made structure in the world is expected to be completed. It’s expected to be equivalent to two Empire State Buildings!

Ok, enough about next year. What were some of the things we talked about last week on Hoboken411?

Hottest Topics Week #52

1. Muni will not be Puny
   The heated discussion continues about the Municpal Garage sale. Many complaints surface despite being an open topic for several years.
2. Hampton the dog
   Is having trouble finding a home.. where will he be in 2008?
3. Commuting increases
   Costs going up across the board to get from point A to point B.
4. My Generation
   People still wet behind the ears demand instant gratification from prospective employers.
5. Housing Bubble
   The economy seems to be suffering, this time reports about real estate deliver the bad news.
6. Amateur Night
   One of the few nights a year that people feel obligated to party.

Well, that was last week. What about overall? Here’s a list of the top 12 most commented posts on Hoboken411.

All Time Most Commented Posts

1. The Fourth Ward Council Race
   The power of Hoboken411 helped change the course of history in Hoboken forever!
2. Open bitching forum
   I created a place for people to randomly complain about whatever they want, it quickly vaults up to one of the most commented threads.
3. Corzine’s new home in 2008
   Maxwell Place became a hot topic in Hoboken, enough for me to have to split it in two!
4. St. Patty’s Day We’re all drunks!
   The city collected more than half a million dollars ticketing people consuming beverages with one key ingredient: Alcohol.
5. Drinky Drink Campos
   A city councilman gets busted in NYC for DUI. The entire year went by without a real trial. Coming soon to a theater near you!
6. Hoboken KKK-kops
   Five latino officers sue the city for alleged racist actions. Racy photos soon follow, and Hoboken becomes a national embarrassment.
7. Unconscionable
   A corporate-owned rental high rise had rapidly rising rents. Residents were 100% dissatisfied.
8. Hoboken was VERY thirsty
   Hoboken411 was the place people talked about the water main break that left the entire city smelly.
9. City Government
   Normally, city council meetings are under the radar. This particular one from November 2007 had over 400 comments!
10. SW Redevelopment
    When money is involved, everything gets more complicated. Here the SW quadrant is a hot bed for discussion as to what the best plan to revitalize this dilapidated area of the city.
11. Pulled Pork
    Believe it or not, Joey’s BBQ, a small take out eatery generates much conversation. Also, the owner demonstrates what should be done to communicate with your customers.
12. Foxie, the dead dog
    The sad story of Randy and his sweet companion touches the hearts of many. The suspect in the white pickup truck still remains at large.

Hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable New Year’s Eve, and may 2008 be the best year ever!

Final: NE 38 NY 35

The Giants hung in there, but let it slip in the fourth quarter. Congratulations to the Patriots on the first ever undefeated 16-0 regular NFL season!

12/29/2007:

Halftime: Much to my surprise, the Giants are playing a great game, and lead the New England Patriots through two quarters 21-16!

Will they be able keep pace in the 2nd half? Or will the Pats re-group and come out on fire in the third quarter?

12/27/2007:

As most of you may know, the New England Patriots will attempt to become the first every NFL team to complete a regular season undefeated at 16-0. They’ve already set a record by being the first time to reach the 15-0 mark during the regular season.

This Saturday, the Patriots will be facing our own NY Giants in the last game of the season. Both teams have already made the playoffs. It’s been said that the Giants will rest many of their starters in preparation for the (more important) wild card game next week against Tampa Bay (NE has a bye week,) but New England may keep a majority of their starters in the game to ensure the perfect regular season.

The game was regularly scheduled to be shown exclusively on the NFL Network (outside of the Boston & NYC metro areas - which show regional games on local TV,) but they decided at the last minute to also simulcast the game on both NBC and CBS. This means, for those that have the NFL Network (myself included,) that this game may be shown on four channels simultaneously!

I personally think the Giants will get smashed, but you never know! Will they preserve their players, or try to play spoiler?

What do you think the final outcome will be?

12/29/2007:

With most people staring at TV screens tonight, no one probably witnessed a stabbing that occurred about 10-15 minutes in the past in the vicinity of 5th and Madison Street. The victim is currently being tended to by HPD and an ambulance unit is on the way.

The suspects fled eastbound and were last seen near 5th and Adams Streets. They were in a “blue sports type” vehicle with tinted windows. The victim and suspect know each other, as the man who was stabbed said it was “the mother of his child,” so I doubt this person is a threat to others in the neighborhood.

What happened to people just breaking plates or shouting when they got into a fight?

Police are searching the area, as well as the exit points of town.

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APPAREL ONLINE
JuneBee Baby, Inc.

APPAREL AND ACCESSORY RETAIL LOCATIONS
About a Girl
Air Studios
April Unlimited
American Apparel
Anthology
Bellie & Katrina
Burlington Coat Factory
Ciao Belly (Childrens) - New!
City Discount House
de fine
Down To Earth
Fleet Feet
Fowad
Heart beat Style
Hoboken Leather And Shearling Warehouse
Hoboken Style
Itty Bitties Boutique (Childrens) - New!
Jessie James
Jos. A. Bank
Lucy’s
Olga Kvitko
paul michael
Peper
Romantic Depot Video
Rubee’s Closet
Ruby Collections
Solid Threads
Spreading the News (a Life is good retailer - NEW!)
Wee Beasties Bootery (Childrens)

FORMAL WEAR
The Tux Shop

HANDBAGS
Anastasia’s Accessories
M. Avery Designs

LINGERIE
Galatea Lingerie

SHOE REPAIR
Giovanni D’Italia Footwear
Hoboken City Cleaners

SHOE STORES
Eva’s Designer Shoes & Accessories (New! July 2008)
Fabco Shoes (doomed June 2008)
Fleet Feet
Foot Locker
Parlor Designer Shoes
Platform Soul
Shoeuphoria
Sole Search
Via Mode Boutique
Volonte Shoes & Accessories (New! March 2008)

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FOR THE CARNIVORE IN YOU
Joe’s Prime Meats
Paramus Meats (FKA John & Son’s Meat Market)
Sarah’s Farm Inc
Truglio’s Meat Market

“FOR THE SEAFOOD LOVER IN YOU”
Joseph Apicella & Sons (gone)

12/29/2007:

Sometime either last night or this morning, a vehicle struck this Mini Cooper and did some pretty severe damage! Hoboken411 reader Ryan sent these photos in.

“I just went outside to move my car and saw this. Looks really bad. You can see that the Mini was hit hard because it slammed into the truck in front of it and pushed it about 3 feet forward across the white line.”

Ok, it probably wasn’t Jim Leyritz, Mischa Barton, or even Chris Campos… We need another noteworthy “Celebrity DUI” ASAP, because I’m getting bored with this list of offenders already!

12/29/2007:

In case you were stuck in traffic in uptown Hoboken, this is the reason why.

There was a working fire in the building on the southwest corner of 16th & Willow Ave this morning, creating slow conditions at surrounding traffic points.

HFD was at the scene for over an hour managing this small fire which started on the second floor, but had spread in little pockets to the first floor. While not a raging fire, and quickly put down, the FD had to be sure there were no remnants left behind.

I went to the Malibu while uptown, and may be suffering from a small heart attack myself.