Category Archives: Sally Deering

Fun Hudson-Great Things to Do and See on the Hudson Waterfront

                     

Yoga, Dance, Music, Film, and so much more 

By Sally Deering

Summer’s just around the corner and after the winter we had, every day should feel like the 4th of July. One of the many benefits of living here on the Hudson is not only our close proximity to all things Manhattan, but the many activities that are offered either on the water or close to it. From kayaking to dance performances to film screenings on a starry night, there are plenty of fun things to do this summer; here’s a sampling…..

SUMMER ENCHANTED EVENINGS

Hoboken Concert Series

Thurs, 7 pm: Jun 25-Aug 20

Sinatra Park Amphitheater

Between 4th & 5th Streets, Sinatra Drive, Hoboken

www.hobokennj.org

Continue reading Fun Hudson-Great Things to Do and See on the Hudson Waterfront

THINGS ARE SMOKIN’ AT LOUIE’S BBQ PIT

Owner Luis Morilla Smokes & Seasons BBQ with Latin Flavors and Texas Style

Honoring his late Son’s love of BBQ, Morilla turns Grief to Sustenance

 

By Sally Deering

Louie's BBQ Pit Situated in the middle of Palisade Avenue on 51st Street in West New York, Louie’s BBQ Pit serves ribs, chicken, brisket and pulled pork smoked and barbecued in owner Luis Morilla’s secret seasonings. Morilla opened his eatery just five weeks ago and his take-out has already taken off.

Luis Morilla
  Luis Morilla, Owner of Louie’s BBQ Pit
in West New York, with his Texas style barbecued chickens
Louis Morilla had restaurant named after him
The late Louis Morilla

Louie’s BBQ Pit has a simple menu that packs a wallop of smokin’ flavor in its dishes. It features Pork and Beef Ribs, Chicken, Brisket and Pulled Pork – smoked, seasoned and barbecued Texas style. There’s a Whole Chicken with Rice and Beans, a Full Rack of Pork Ribs with Rice and Beans; Beef Ribs with Rice and Beans; and Pulled Pork, Chicken & Brisket Sandwiches. Customers can order Family Meals like a Whole Chicken, 6 Pork Ribs and Rice and Beans combo; and a Full Rack of Pork Ribs with Rice and Beans.

Continue reading THINGS ARE SMOKIN’ AT LOUIE’S BBQ PIT

OPERA SINGER GOES POP Giselle Bellas Breaks Out on 5th Season of LOUIE

Singer’s Debut EP Due Out Soon

 By Sally Deering  

Opera singer to pop singer Giselle Bellas
Giselle Bellas

She got the call, and an hour later opera singer Giselle Bellas of Jersey City was in Avatar Studios in Manhattan working out a song with Louis C.K. for the 5th episode of his Peabody and Emmy Award winning TV Show LOUIE (Thursdays, 10:30 pm,  FX). Louis C.K. sang the lyrics he wrote into an iPhone and left Giselle to collaborate with his band SweetPro, which does all the original music for the series. The result: Giselle sang a haunting tune called “Diarrhea” that plays over the episode’s losing credits.

 

Giselle Bellas
Giselle performs with Keenan McRae at
Jersey City Fashion Week at Liberty Science Center

Since that fateful call made by Giselle’s producer Adam Tilzer, who is also the sound engineer on LOUIE, Giselle has turned in performances on six LOUIE episodes collaborating with Louis C.K. and SweetPro and singing tunes that show off her vocal versatility, 4-octave range and sense of humor. Continue reading OPERA SINGER GOES POP Giselle Bellas Breaks Out on 5th Season of LOUIE

LORD OF THE SQUARE DANCE Howard Richman gets Dancers Swinging

Adding Flair to Tradition, Richman’s Dancers Promenade to Madonna

 By Sally Deering

Howard Richman Lord of the Square Dance Slip the Clutch, Shoot the Star and Roll Away with a Half Sashay; these may be non-sequiturs to most of us but to square-dance fans these terms get them twirling on the dance floor and if Howard Richman’s calling the dance, there might be some Madonna in the mix.

Square Dance calling may not be a typical job found on a resume, but Richman does it to add to his income as a theater artist and he travels throughout the Tri-State area to gyms, schools and church halls to put people through their paces on the dance floor.

Continue reading LORD OF THE SQUARE DANCE Howard Richman gets Dancers Swinging

HOUSE OF SHARDS-Art House Productions “The House of Atreus” an American Vet Returns Home to More Casualties

Art House Productions’ New Play opens June 4th

By Sally Deering

“A cursed bloodline. A family on the edge.  If this house could speak, what stories it would tell.”

Creative Team at Art House Productions
THE HOUSE OF ATREUS’ Creative Team,
Christine Goodman, Mason Beggs and Meagan Woods

 That’s the tagline for the new play THE HOUSE OF ATREUS which premieres Thursday, June 4, at Art House Productions in Jersey City. It’s a collaborative work between Christine Goodman (Executive Director of Art House Productions) who wrote the piece, Mason Beggs, who directed, and choreographer Meagan Woods.

Gabbie Cowdie in Art House Productions House of Atreus
Gabbie Gowdie and Ema Lakovic in The HOUSE OF ATREUS

THE HOUSE OF ATREUS is an immersive and unconventional theater piece. Instead of putting the actors on stage and the audience in rows of seats to observe, the set takes up the entire theater with a chair and TV in one area, a broken down porch in another, and a dining room table at center. The audience enters through a haze of smoky fog and is encouraged to find a spot of their choosing to watch the play as it unfolds around them. This immerses the audience into the play’s action, which becomes part of the overall theater experience.

Adam Resnick in Art House Productions  House of Atreus
Adam Resnick plays Alan in THE HOUSE OF ATREUS, Presented by Art House Production in Jersey City

“The audience will be active observers,” Goodman says, sitting on set with Beggs and Woods during a break in tech rehearsal. “We’re changing the audience’s perspective.”

The play’s plot focuses on the main character Alan who returns home after serving in Iraq. He comes back only to find his house in ruins and his family broken and as war torn as the place he left behind. Continue reading HOUSE OF SHARDS-Art House Productions “The House of Atreus” an American Vet Returns Home to More Casualties

A TASTE OF SPAIN IN JERSEY CITY- Raval Tapas Bar & Cocktail Lounge

 

 By Sally Deering   

JC Mayor Steve Fulop cuts ribbon at Ravall restaurant
On Friday, May 29, Jersey City Mayor Steven M. Fulop cut the ribbon at the Grand Opening of
Raval Tapas Bar & Cocktail Lounge on Newark Avenue in Jersey City.

Jersey City’s “Restaurant Row” starts at Grove Street and moves west along Newark Avenue where bistros offer foods of many cultures. Now, there’s a new kid on the block – Raval Tapas Bar & Cocktail Lounge – where guests are invited to enjoy flavors of Spain.

Ravall RESTAURANT
Executive Chef Michael Fiorianti and Restaurant Development Group’s Geza Gulas, Michael Garcia and Andy Siegel, owners of Raval.

Raval Tapas Bar & Cocktail Lounge recently opened on Newark Avenue with Jersey City Mayor Steven M. Fulop cutting the ribbon at a Grand Opening ceremony and friends gathering for champagne and finger foods to welcome Raval to the neighborhood. Cuisine from Spain is the latest concept from the owners, the Restaurant Development Group (RDG), which also owns the Lucky 7 Tavern, and Satis Bistro in Jersey City.

Continue reading A TASTE OF SPAIN IN JERSEY CITY- Raval Tapas Bar & Cocktail Lounge

BAYONNE, THE NEW BOHO?

Bayonne’s Culture Scene Takes Off -Art, Theater and New Outdoor Stage on the Rise

By Sally Deering

Bayonne Arts PavilionPhoto of truck with Bayonne Announcement Jersey City’s culture scene just got some competition. It seems Bayonne, its Hudson sister to the south has been going through a renaissance of sorts. Art galleries, theater companies and now a new performing arts pavilion are giving the city a cultural facelift.

Dwyer and Semanchick
(Richard Dwyer and Adam J. Semanchick
of Bayonne Theater Co)

There’s the JCC of Bayonne’s Fine Art Gallery currently featuring A COUPLE OF IMAGES, paintings and photographs by Bayonne residents and artists Billy Zbylut and Patty Mulligan; the Art Circle of Bayonne at the Bayonne Community Museum which has a Spring Art Show underway  featuring Bayonne artists; the new Bayonne Theater Company is hosting a gala on Thursday, May 21, with its first show THE MUSIC MAN in pre-production; and a Bayonne performing arts pavilion which will host local theater, music and dance groups, as well as stars like Willie Nelson is breaking ground in a few weeks. .

Continue reading BAYONNE, THE NEW BOHO?