Category Archives: General

Dining, General

Schnackenberg’s Luncheonette Brings Back Old Hoboken Charm and Egg Creams

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Schnackies is Back!

By Sally Deering

SCHANACKS
Schnackenberg’s new owners Eugene and Joyce Flinn in front of their Hoboken luncheonette

If you’ve been in the Hoboken area for a while, it’s likely you’ve visited Schnackenberg’s Luncheonette and may even have a “Schnackie’s” story or two from back in the day. That’s what Eugene and Joyce Flinn have been learning ever since they took over “Schnackie’s” and gave the old-fashioned ice cream parlor a facelift that’s both retro and nouveau.

The Flinns – who own Amanda’s and the Elysian Café in Hoboken – really outdid themselves with Schnackie’s restoration. In many ways it looks pretty much the way it did back when it opened in 1931; the wooden booths in the dining room are original; so is the tiled floor that has been spiffed and retiled in some places. The display cases of homemade chocolates and fresh doughnuts and pastries are there, too, and so is the counter with all new marble countertop and red and tan upholstered stools that swirl before a real soda fountain where Egg Creams are made with real pressurized seltzer. You can have Cherry Cokes, too, the kind made with real syrup, and Strawberry Malts, Chocolate Milkshakes and Root Beer Floats.

The Novak family, descendants of Henry Schnackenberg who opened the luncheonette in 1931, turned Schnackie’s over to the Finns in 2012. They, in turn, restored it and brought it up to code.

“They saw what we did with the Elysian and we knew them from town,” Joyce Flinn says. “We didn’t want to do anything untoward. It’s still their family name.”

Restoring Schnackenberg’s has been a labor of love, especially for Eugene, who was a history major when he attended Saint Peter’s College in Jersey City. Continue reading Schnackenberg’s Luncheonette Brings Back Old Hoboken Charm and Egg Creams →

General

Bayonne Bridge to Have “Hold and Pull” Daytime Traffic December 19-20

          

BAYONNE BRIDGE The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has advised the City of Bayonne that the Bayonne Bridge will have a “hold and pull” traffic operation on Thursday, December 19, and Friday, December 20, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on both days.  “Hold and pull” means that the Port Authority will stop traffic in each direction for fifteen minutes.  The Port Authority is using this alternating traffic pattern for those two days, in order to install delineators, which were knocked out. Delineators are rubber devices that separate traffic into lanes.  

General

Jersey City Police Arrest 17 Individuals As Part of Large-Scale, Joint Law Enforcement Operation

High-Visibility Patrols Also Targeted Disorderly Groups and Holiday Shopping Areas

 Jersey City Police Officers JERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop announced today that the Jersey City Police Department arrested 17 individuals on a variety of charges, including various narcotics offenses, and issued nearly 150 motor vehicle summonses during a large-scale, joint law enforcement operation.

The operation, which was led by the JCPD, began at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 6th and went through the early morning hours on Saturday, Dec. 7th.  A total of 50 undercover officers from the JCPD, the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office, the Hudson County Sheriff’s Office, and the federal Drug Enforcement Agency participated in the operation.

A key success of the operation was the execution of a search warrant at a home on Orient, which has been a source of community complaints as a known drug distribution site.  The home was heavily fortified, however, the JCPD Emergency Services Unit breached the front door.  As suspects with known prior weapons offenses were believed to be inside, a flash bang was deployed upon entry. Three individuals were arrested at this location.  Earlier in the day, police recovered two bricks of heroin which had been sold from the house. Continue reading Jersey City Police Arrest 17 Individuals As Part of Large-Scale, Joint Law Enforcement Operation →

Dining, General

ME Casa (Su Casa) Shining a Spotlight on Fine Puerto Rican Cuisine in Jersey City

 By Sally Deering

Chef Ed Coto Jr. in front of his restaurant Me Casa
Chef Ed Coto Jr. in front of his restaurant Me Casa

 Eighteen months ago Chef Ed Cotto, Jr., and his wife Maria discovered a little nook on Varick Street in Jersey City and turned it into ME Casa, a divine little restaurant where the star is traditional Puerto Rican cuisine served in grand style. Cotto, who was born and raised in Brooklyn and spent much of his childhood in his family’s native Puerto Rico, has a special ingredient he adds to all his dishes: he calls it heart and soul.

“I’m a little disturbed Latin cuisine hasn’t elevated,” Cotto says on a recent afternoon as he prepares for the evening dinner crowd.  “I went to Puerto Rico a couple years ago and not only didn’t they change their physical décor, it was the same dishes I had 20 years ago. Puerto Ricans have been content selling Puerto Rican food to Puerto Ricans. My challenge is to sell it to people of other cultures. Roast pork is roast pork, how do you make it differently? ”

The dining room, red-bricked lined with tables covered in white linens, is intimate and warm with Latin music

Me Casa downtown Jersey City Puerto Rican restaurant
Me Casa intimate dining room

playing softly in the background. It’s a BYOB restaurant and Cotto encourages his guests to bring their own wine or beer to complement his menu, which offers select traditional Puerto Rican dishes by Cotto.

“My boss is the people who sit here in these chairs,” Cotto says. “Good food and hospitality, it has to go hand in hand. I want my customers to connect.”

Cotto offered a visitor a few ME Casa signature dishes to taste like the Mofongo Al Pilon, mashed green plantains and garlic topped with beef (shrimp or chicken) stew which was very tasty. The beef in the stew was tender and the gravy had some really nice flavors. Another delicious house specialty is the Pernil Asado, traditional marinated pulled pork. A real standout is the Alcapurias, fried mashed green banana and plantain Continue reading ME Casa (Su Casa) Shining a Spotlight on Fine Puerto Rican Cuisine in Jersey City →

General, On the Waterfront

Did You Know? Nine of New Jersey’s 20 Largest Office Buildings Are Located in Jersey City

jc skyline courtsey City Data Listed by  NJ BIZ Rankings Based on Square Footage of Office Buildings
Jersey City residents have something else to be proud of according to a NJ BIZ ranking announced today by  Mayor Steven M. Fulop- that  nine of the twenty largest office buildings in New Jersey – based on square footage – are located in Jersey City.
“Jersey City has the largest down town skyline in New Jersey and this list proves the point,” said Mayor Fulop. “Some of our larger new commercial tenants include the Depository, Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC) and Fidelity Investments. Our proximity to New York, our lower operating costs, the relative newness of our office buildings, and our diverse and highly-skilled workforce are all factors in why more and more businesses are choosing Jersey City.”
From NJ BIZ:
#2 – Goldman Sachs – 30 Hudson Street
#4 – 101 Hudson Street – 101 Hudson Street
#5 – Newport Office Center 7 – 480 Washington Boulevard
#9 – Newport Tower – 525 Washington Boulevard
#11 – Harborside Plaza 5 – Harborside Plaza 5
#12 – Harborsize Plaza 2 – Harborside Plaza 2
#14 – Harborside Plaza 3 – Harborside Plaza 3
#17 – Newport Office Center 4 – 545 Washington Boulevard
#20 – Newport Office Center 5 – 575 Washington Boulevard
Photo source: City Data
General

Turkey Ring Toss Competition in Bayonne to be moved indoors on 11/27/13

City of Bayonne SealDue to the forecast for heavy rain on Wednesday, November 27th, the City of Bayonne Division of Recreation will hold the Turkey Ring Toss Competition indoors at the Recreation Senior Center, located at 597 Broadway (between 27th & 28th Street).

The Toss will start at 3:15pm.

Boys and girls will toss rings onto a turkey cut-out wooden board.

There will be 4 age groups: 4 and under; 5 to 6 years of age; 7 to 9 years of age; and 10 to 12 years of age.  Prizes will be awarded for 1st place, 2nd place, and 3rd place in each division.&# 160;

For more information, call the Division of Recreation at 201-858-6127.

General, In the clubs

The Powerhouse Lounge in Jersey City-A Classy Treat

By Martin Ramone Delossantos

powerhouse24-edf3f278e6The Powerhouse Lounge is a Jersey City nightclub with food service, mostly loved for their incredible pizza, and sushi.  It opened three years ago in 2010 and now you don’t have to journey into New York City for a classy trendy club because it’s here.

There is a doorman so always dress to impress – bring your corporate I.D., and wear business attire to get in – especially if you are interested in the corporate happy hour from 5-to-8 pm.  It’s a deal offering food and drinks for just $20.  Continue reading The Powerhouse Lounge in Jersey City-A Classy Treat →

General

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD-KINDEGARTEN CLASSES FILL SHOEBOXES FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED CHIDREN

Pictured:michelle Mandaro and Kindegarten ChildrenKindergarten students from All Saint’s Catholic Academy in Bayonne from Mrs. Cronin and Mrs. Olvesen classes KA and KB filled shoeboxes as part of Operation Christmas Child as stated by Michelle Mandaro a Bayonne mother who along with her two children have been filling shoeboxes with items for underprivileged children for the past 5 years.

“The kindegarten children were excited  to help with the project, they understood the purpose and decorated and filled the boxes with goodies and wrote notes to the children who will be receiving the boxes.” stated Mrs. Mandaro

“Last year Operation Christmas Chld  filled 22,000 shoeboxes and this year we filled 29,000 shoeboxes added Mrs. Mandaro.

Pictured with the children far left Michelle Mandaro. Mrs. Cronin and Mrs. Ovlesen holding the sign “Power of a Simple Gift.

To read more about Operation Christmas Child or to help out next year please read OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILDÂ