8/31/2008:

In addition to big talk about local Hoboken politics, local residents also shared their viewpoints on National topics such as the Presidential race and severe tropical weather.

Besides Obama, McCain, Palin, Lenz, and Gustav, what other names made the Top 10 most discussed Hoboken411 entries for the week ending Sunday August 31st, 2008?

Hottest topics of the week

1. Got a case of the Lenz
   Last Sunday, a letter to the editor in the local paper exposes a local political hack.
2. Laying the foundation
   A brief update about the much-discussed Clearview Cinemas uptown.
3. Empire Freakness
   Complaint overload about a midtown gym that has issues with billing.
4. McCain selects a GILF for VP
   On the Republican side of the fence, a controversial decision is made for second in command.
5. Stumbl-O-Bama
   A reader thought a couple Obama videos would make for interesting conversation.
6. More pedestrians struck
   One consistent occurrence in Hoboken: pedestrian pinball. Who’s fault is it really?.
7. America to be slammed by Mother Nature
   Hurricane Gustav is expected to be devastating wherever it finally lands. The tropics are heating up! What’s next?
8. Flip Flop you don’t stop
   One reader wanted to expose some of McCain’s inconsistencies.
9. Cupcakes take Hoboken by storm
   Local bakery owner is “killin ‘em with Sweetness” as her (delicious) cupcake shop wows new customers.
10. Woof, Woof, Arf, Growl (et. al.)
    The Hoboken411 Legal Beagle answers more questions from residents.

Noteworthy

• Have any tough questions?
  A local church welcomes you to ask them. Answers are not guaranteed.
• NYC hates us
  A cabbie from the other side of the river crashes our stoop party.
• Now Boarding!
  NY Waterway Ferry slip moves a few clicks to the north.

This week

Summer events are dwindling down in Hoboken (you can see them listed on the calendar on the bottom of the left sidebar - Let me know if I’m missing any good ones!)

Some noteworthy upcoming events:

• Free Kayaking TODAY!
• Also, don’t forget about the Arthur’s Landing Clam Bake TODAY as well!
• And the famous Hoboken Italian Festival starts on the 4th!
• Get Jersey Fresh produce at the Hoboken Farmers Market (Tuesday’s through October)

8/30/2008 Update:

All I can say is wow!

Seems like Hurricane Gustav strengthened much faster than forecasters imagined, going from a Cat 1 to a Cat 4 in about 12 hours. Many officials think it should reach Cat 5 at some point during it’s life. Western Cuba is going to get ravaged.

In other stupid political news, dimwit Michael Moore said that a hurricane coming during the GOP Convention is “Proof there is a God in Heaven.” The dopey filmmaker admits he’s delighted to see a natural disaster potentially interfere with the Republican event.

OK, so you’re delighted that billions in damage will occur, people can (and will) get hurt or killed just because it disrupts a political event? That man is going straight to hell now (if he wasn’t already.)

8/29/2008 Update 2:

As you can tell, I am a bit of a weather aficionado… Anyway, forecasters are now worried that Gustav indeed has the potential to reach category 4 or even cat 5 status… Hopefully any loss of life can be averted with proper planning.

See previous updates after the jump…

[Click to continue reading the rest….]

8/30/2008:

Just like the Democrats had their Obama Watch Party over at Willie McBride’s last week, here’s some information about how you can gather with some Republicans this week.

NFL Season Opener + Republican Nomination

On Thursday, September 4th, The Hoboken Republicans and The Hoboken Republican Organization will be hosting a McCain Nomination Watch Party at Avenue Bistro/Bar (Washington Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets).

Prior to the Nomination Watch Party, several attendees will gather to watch the NFL season opener at Avenue. The gathering will begin at 7:00 pm with the McCain acceptance speech expected to occur at 10:00 pm.

8/29/2008:

Completely bored and unmotivated to move, I decided to transcribe what a random hour is like on the air of the Live Hoboken Police and Fire Scanner.

I then decided that this is a pretty fun exercise, and will periodically compile hourly snap-shot nuggets of what is going on in our city (and what property tax dollars are paying for). Naturally, picking a mid-afternoon time slot on a holiday weekend won’t net any exciting reports, so I plan to do this again on more action-packed weekend nights.

Hoboken happenings 14:21 - 15:21 hours 8/29/2008

14:21 – Fire Alarm activation 38 Jackson Street. E5 L2 R1 155 were dispatched.
—— 14:23 – Command says pull station was accidentally activated by workers – companies return to service
14:22 - 81 Monroe – Apt. 3 – a “residential 10-5” (burglar alarm)
—— 14:27 – Maid service was scheduled to clean today, but didn’t have proper code. They left without cleaning. Owner notified.
14:23 – One police unit does a “building sweep” of 321 Harrison St. (this happens daily at various locations throughout the day)
14:24 – Ladder One notifies dispatch that it’ll be in service, but is currently engaged in “driver training”
14:25 – Another police unit is doing a detail check of church square park
14:28 - 503 Garden – vehicle check (or called a “10-39”)
—— 14:29Vehicle is valid, removed by owner, received warning - told not to park motorcycle on sidewalk anymore
14:30 – dispatch confirms 10th between Bloom and garden is closed
14:33 – HPD unit logged out at Newark and Hudson – traffic point.
14:37 – Unit notifies dispatch that TWO UPS trucks are blocking traffic, a bus gets stuck, and now all hell is about to break loose.
14:42 - more on the UPS trucks.. they’re blocking traffic so bad, that they cannot even get a tow truck in to remove them. Unit issues tickets, as they wait.
14:43 – McDonald’s payphone – 911 hangup.
—— 14:46 – unit arrived on scene, nobody is there, back in service
14:44 - 655 Jackson – vehicle check – valid 1995 accord – no action taken by police
14:45 – 10th st. now re-opened.
14:48 – one PD unit takes a brief break
14:52 - 133 Harrison Street – Parked vehicle check – 2001 Volvo from out of town – police issue ticket (blocked hydrant) – but no tow called
—— 14:59 – Tow now called
—— 15:18 – tow averted, owner removed vehicle
14:59 – Dispatch called unit 114 for a “10-12 inside” (i.e., report to headquarters)
15:04 – unit 303 takes a personal break

[Hoboken411 Bathroom Break]

15:04-15:16 – miscellaneous communications, status reports, follow up on vehicle checks, etc.
15:18 – unit 246 is asked to “10-11” (call) the desk (which means they don’t want to communicate this information over the airwaves)

8/29/2008:

In case you have the itch to shop for something different this holiday weekend, stop by Mackey Blue.

Swing By and Entertain Yourself with Mike Rohner

“Ten Paintings by Mike are On Display. Come Take a Peek and Go Home With Your Favorite! Or Check Out Mike’s website where You can Relish His Vast Styles and Scenes.

Mike Rohner works from his studio in Hoboken, NJ, using bold colors and brush strokes to create original oil paintings. Mike is a young artist who builds oil paintings with a personal perspective that is truly unique. Having taken several courses at the School of Visual Arts in New York since graduating from Muhlenberg College with a bachelor of arts degree, Mike continually strives to improve his painting skills. Many of his paintings have been on display throughout Hoboken, Northern New Jersey, and New York. Photographs and sketches from travels and local scenes are the main references for most of Mike’s works. All canvases are stretched and primed by Mike, with a focus on quality. Limited edition giclee prints on canvas are available for some works. Mike’s artwork offers a unique opportunity for art collectors to invest in a piece of work from a young and hard working artist. Feel free to contact the artist to purchase any pieces or answer any questions you may have.”

Contact Info for Mike Rohner:
Phone: 201-798-0819
Email: mikerohner@hotmail.com
Website: http://mikerohner.com/

Also, Mackey Blue has shorter holiday hours this weekend:

• Friday 12:00pm - 8:00pm
• Saturday 10:00am - 5:00pm
• Sunday Off for the Holiday

8/29/2008 Update:

I get so many emails about Empire Fitness, that it’s almost too much to post. But here’s one sent to Hoboken411 this morning:

“I am a member at Empire Fitness on Washington St. Their hours M-F are 5:00 - 11:30pm (10:00 pm) Friday. This whole week, they failed to open on time. I am not talking about 10-15 minutes late, I am talking about hours. For example today, I got there at 6:45 am, and no one got there to open the place until 7:10 am. Speaking to others inside the gym, this has been going on all week (I can only account for Wednesday and today). The more frustrating part is that the gym does not acknowledge that there is a problem, or does not even seem to offer any sort of apology. I am locked in for a year, so I have little recourse. I just thought a blurb on your site about it would be a good idea so they are held somewhat accountable.”

See other fruity reports, including the “Ripoff Report” after the jump…

[Click to continue reading the rest….]

click here..

8/29/2008:

A common trend in Hoboken is residents leaving their unwanted books or appliances on their stoops, free for the taking.

I saw this batch of books, and thought “I’m sure someone could come up with some Hoboken-relevant caption!”

Perhaps “Hoboken - filled with dog poop and zany council meetings?”

8/29/2008:

With seemingly millions of people now downright obsessed with their Facebook accounts more than actual real life, imagine what it would be like if Facebook WAS real life?

8/29/2008:

Do you think an attractive Vice Presidential running mate has secured John McCain’s victory?

From the AP:

McCain chooses Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin for V.P.

John McCain tapped little-known Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his vice presidential running mate on Friday in a startling selection on the eve of the Republican National Convention.

More recently, she has come under the scrutiny of an investigation by the Republican-controlled legislature into the possibility that she ordered the dismissal of Alaska’s public safety commissioner because he would not fire her former brother-in-law as a state trooper.

8/29/2008:

Here’s another wacky “fun with unused photos” segment.

I love some of these dry cleaners and hair salons in Hoboken that have these outdated pictures in their windows.

PHOTO GALLERY (HOLD MOUSE OVER IMAGE TO NAVIGATE - 3 PHOTOS IN THIS SET)

In a related video, here’s a fun Spike Feresten clip from a few seasons ago where he pesters a Hollywood dry cleaner about their “celebrity” photos: