First of all - Happy 4th to everyone!

Still Calm in Hoboken

I spent the past couple hours milling around north Hoboken - and below you’ll find my photostream of what I saw - along with my brief observations.

One thing I haven’t been able to confirm yet - and have received conflicting reports - is exactly where the southernmost fireworks barge will be staged - and when. Some have said they move it slightly south (near Maxwell Place) - others still think it’ll be more at the northern border of Hoboken (at the edge of Weehawken). I expect the barges to start going into place in a couple hours - and then we’ll know for sure!

(FYI - I didn’t spend time post-processing these photos, so some may be a bit dark - sorry!)

So what is going on?

Here’s what I learned and saw:

• For starters, if you listen to the Hoboken411 Live Police and Fire Action Channel - you’ll overhear quite a bit of preparation and communication. Sounds very organized. Good job guys!
• Hoboken is still quite calm and peaceful. The general consensus amongst various city workers is, that action will really start picking up around 6pm.
• The food vendors are beginning to setup along Sinatra Drive (a fried calamari truck too!)
• The first aid squad uptown is manned and ready to go.
• The Hoboken Cove Boathouse near Maxwell Place has been converted into a temporary Uptown Police Command Center.
• Eight Port-O-Johnnie’s setup from Maxwell Place north - the remaining 22 south to Pier A Park.
• Some Hoboken businesses decided to close - others are hoping to capitalize on the added traffic.
• A whole bunch of newly added hot dog carts dispersed in the area.
• It was a pleasure to walk down the middle of Sinatra Drive without any traffic!

I’ll do one more “sweep” later in the afternoon to compare the changes!

Tags: 4th of July, fireworks, Hoboken, Macy*s, NJ, Update, waterfront

Hoboken is getting ready for tomorrow’s epic Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular…

Crowd deterrents

Over at Maxwell Place - city workers were putting up orange fencing around the perimeter - as a reminder that no onlookers should cross and watch the fireworks from the dangerous and unstable rocks that line the park.

I spoke with OEM Director Joel Mestre - and he pointed out that visitors are allowed to bring chairs, blankets - even coolers with beverages and food. However, they are not allowing BBQing or Hibachi grills. NO PUBLIC ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION ALLOWED! (see “Zero Tolerance Policy” for more details…)

Additionally, he said that about 30 (thirty) Port-O-Johnnie’s were brought in and will be lined up along the waterfront. Which only makes me wonder why there are no public bathrooms along the river between 15th Street to Sinatra Park? Other than Elysian Park and kind local businesses - you need a bladder of steel if you want to spend an extended amount of time outside.

First Aid Stations

Over on 14th and Sinatra - some first aid tents are now setup, along with a cooling station.

No 14th Street Pier Access!

Another thing to note is - since Applied Company owns both 14th Street Piers - I heard they have decided to close them to the public in lieu of private functions. So keep that in mind!

Traffic Signs

These traffic message boards have been placed at strategic locations throughout the city:

Hope you all enjoy your 4th!

Tags: 4th of July, Hoboken, Hudson County, Hudson River, Joel Mestre, Macys Fireworks, NJ

For those sticking around (or coming to visit) to watch the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular - here are some helpful posts for you to brush up on!

A square mile of insanity

• The original Macy’s announcement - plus a map of where the shells will be launched.
• A list of street closings and other important information.
• Don’t get too nutty - Hoboken has a Zero Tolerance Policy - who wants to pay $1000 or go to jail on the 4th?
• If you walk along Sinatra Drive - be sure to arrive hungry!
• And check out the NY Times piece about the fireworks (mentioning Hoboken) - along with their very nice map of viewing locations along the Hudson.

Did you know?

That the Macy’s Fireworks will be much higher in the sky than usual? Because of the Palisades Cliffs - they’ve designed the shells to detonate at 1000 feet! Most years, they usually explode at around 500-600 feet.

I wonder if you’ll need binoculars?

Tags: 4th of July, fireworks, Hoboken, Hudson River, Macy*s

One Hoboken411 reader is totally annoyed at the rules and regulations being issued at various condo/apartment towers in Hoboken. Specifically 333 River Street.

Communist America? Damnit!

“Did you know how pathetic and ridiculous Applied Management Company is in their handling of the fireworks for 333 River Street residents? As you may know, 333 River has two large decks facing the Hudson on its 4th floor. at least the northern deck will provide a great view for the Macy’s show. The southern deck may as well.

Please advise our community of how absurd Applied is!”

Why do you think these “managed” buildings are so locked down?

Tags: 333 River Street, Applied Housing, fireworks, Hoboken, Restrictions

It will be nutty on Saturday!

Now’s a better time than ever to use this “Where is this?” photo mini-quiz, especially since our city will most likely be exactly that tomorrow!

So - where is (was) this “nutty” sign?

Tags: Hoboken, photo quiz, Sign, Where is this

God Bless America

Hoboken411 readers Jean Marie and Mary Anne sent in photos of this mornings American Flag Balloon inflation over at Stevens - From two entirely different perspectives!

Jean Marie captured the “flat to phat” process:

While Mary Anne got the “birds eye” view from Marine View!

Tags: 4th of July, America, Balloon, flag, PHOTO OF THE DAY, photography, reader photo, stevens

All this hype for 26 minutes?

By tomorrow night, we’ll be able to tell whether Hoboken got totally inundated by onlookers desperate to get an up-close and personal view of the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular. I’ve been out of town for all previous Hudson River Macy’s shows - so I’ll leave it up to your imagination, or for those that have experienced it before. Maybe we’ll get lucky and everyone will avoid the hyped up event? (not)

Regardless - Stevens Institute offers a very unique perspective for those who don’t have waterfront property with a balcony or rooftop deck. Upwards of 100 feet above sea level - the north portion of the grounds will provide a great view of all the action - without being deafeningly close.

Campus police will be allowing only 1000 people on the property starting at 8pm (other than students, faculty and their guests) - and only through one entrance. I wonder how many will “camp out” like they do for new iPhones or video games?

Stevens Announcement

“On Saturday, July 4 a fireworks display will take place on the Hudson River just north of campus starting at 9:20pm. Stevens wishes to accommodate members of the university community and our neighbors who might want to view the fireworks from campus. In addition, the university needs to take measures to ensure personal safety and the protection of property. The following will govern campus activities on July 4:

Faculty and researchers who need access to laboratories on July 4 can make arrangements by contacting Campus Police at 201.216.5105. Thank you for your cooperation.”

What are your alternatives?

Well - only 28% of poll respondents said they’re migrating to the waterfront to catch this extravaganza - but God only knows how many others will try to pummel our city with their presence.

You can always “sneak” on to this crumbling pier north of the Sovereign Building… (Hoboken411 does not condone or recommend that)

I was thinking of bringing the H411 Mascot Oscar out with me - however, he’s not comfortable AT ALL with the booming celebration (I tried once before, and it was sad). So I’m going to feed him about 3 or 4 Pet Naturals of Vermont - Calming Soft Chews before I check the fireworks out. He should be out cold! (These are available at Cornerstone Pets - and I HIGHLY recommend them! - around 10 bucks)

Whatever you decide to do tomorrow night, I hope all of you have a great time!

Tags: 4th of July, Hoboken, Hudson River, Macys Fireworks, New Jersey, NJ, Restrictions, Rules, Stevens Institute

You can set your watch to it…

Each weekend in Hoboken - there are undoubtedly alcohol-infused altercations. So many, that if you listen to the Hoboken411 Live Police and Fire Action Channel as much as I do - they become pedestrian and uneventful. Back in the day in early 2006 when Hoboken411 started - I used to publish many more of these so-called “interesting” events as they were taking place. However, lately (especially that my “special project” is taking so much of my time) - I’ve just chalked them up as “business as usual” in town.

I decided to post this - because some poor guy was almost knocked out near Lana Lounge - and a female Hoboken Police officer was in foot pursuit of the alleged actor in this crime. Just sounded “COPS” action-like!

Additionally, as I type this - I hear a “nude woman screaming” on the scanner as well (somewhere in the 6th to 7th & Willow area)… Turned out she was just “29″ (drunk) - and cops are dropping the (hopefully hot) girl at the hospital for some reason.

When this stuff happens - I always wonder why alcohol is legal, while chill, calming “drugs” like pot are not… Imagine if it were reversed? Calls would come in - “A guy fell asleep in his car at a stop light with half a pepperoni roll in his mouth” rather than these bloody, angry and violent incidents.

Maybe one day…

Tags: Alcohol, assault, bars, booze, clubs, drunk, Lana Lounge, Recent Crime, Recent Incidents

If you’re a morning person…

Honor America, and come down to Stevens Institute this Friday, July 3rd, 2009 (7-9am) to see the world’s largest free-flying flag. It’s 5 stories tall!

WHAT:

Salute to America

WHERE:

Stevens Institute of Technology Athletic Complex
1 Castle Point on Hudson (via 9th Street & Washington Street)

WHEN:

FRIDAY, JULY 3, 2009 – 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

“The 4th of July is this week and we’re raising – OK, we’re inflating - the largest free flying American Flag ever produced! Please join us as we Salute America with this 53-foot-tall, 78-foot-wide, and 29-foot deep special shaped hot air balloon to kickoff the Independence Day holiday weekend in grand old flag style!:

The American Flag balloon:

• can carry 3 passengers in addition to the pilot
• is 53 feet tall … that’s the same height as a 5 story building
• can hold 700,000 3-foot by 5-foot American flags
• requires 30 MILLION BTUs of propane to be fully inflated!

The American Flag is one of the 125 hot air balloons that will be at the 27th annual Quick Chek New Jersey Festival of Ballooning July 24-25-26, 2009 at Solberg Airport in Readington, NJ. The Festival is the largest summertime hot air balloon and music festival in North America with upwards of 175,000 people expected to attend. The annual Festival takes place the last weekend in July in Hunterdon County, less than 1 hour from New York City and Philadelphia, and has raised nearly $1.5 million for local and regional charities including the Children’s Miracle Network hospitals through ticket sales proceeds over the past 16 years.

Tags: 4th of July, Balloon Festival, Hunterdon County, NJ, Quick Chek, Readington, stevens

[Continuing the ORIGINAL Hoboken411 "Photo of the Day" series...]

Consider this a “public notice” - 7/2/2009

The city of Hoboken has enacted various parking regulations for this Macy*s 4th of July Fireworks spectacular this Saturday.

However, this one particular street (Sinatra Drive) - which originally had “no parking” regulations for BOTH Friday and Satuday - had the signs RIPPED OFF by someone in the last 24 hours.

With that being said - you really ought to memorize the street regulations now - so you don’t get hit with a massive penatly, towing fees and a diarrhea-inducing debacle on your hands! Thank me later with a cup of bold coffee from some coffee shop…

PS - if you have images collecting dust on your camera or hard drive - send them in for eventual inclusion on Hoboken411! Please state how you’d like to be credited in your email, and a description - if desired!!

Tags: fireworks, Hobokenpix, Macy*s, Parking, PHOTO OF THE DAY, photography, Regulations