General, Live On Stage, Local Happenings

LIVE THEATER -A FROG, DETECTIVE AND HAMLET, TOO!

   Kooky Characters Come to Life as Local Live Theaters Begin New Seasons

 BY SALLY DEERING

 

Clay and Sandy Cockrell Production Director at J CITY Theater rehearse a scene from APARTMENT 3 A
Clay and Sandy Cockrell Production Director at J CITY Theater rehearse a scene from APARTMENT 3 A

Culture flourishes in Hudson with art, music and dance performances happening throughout its cities. We also have some terrific live theater groups putting on shows for adults and kids and the new season is now kicking off, like J CITY Theater’s production of APARTMENT 3A. Along with J CITY Theater, the Attic Ensemble in Jersey City is celebrating 43 years as a community theater and the Mile Square Theatre in Hoboken opens its season with a wink to the kids in its production of the Broadway play A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD.

Here’s a closer look at some local theater companies and their upcoming shows. Why not check out a performance or two? You’ll be supporting local theater and those artists who may work in the cultural milieu of New York City and who also nourish the cultural fabric of Hudson’s  community

CRAZY DOES IT ON LIVE TV

Producing Director of the J CITY Theater Clay Cockrell and his wife Sandy Cockrell, who is the company’s Artistic Director are thrilled to be back on the boards after almost a year-long hiatus brought on by Hurricane Sandy. (See our interview with Clay Cockrell following this story.)

This marks J CITY Theater’s 8th season of presenting popular and contemporary plays on the stage of the theater which is located in the basement of St. Michael’s RC Church facing Hamilton Park in Jersey City. The company recently opened its season with APARTMENT 3A, a romantic comedy about a public television employee who loses her faith in God, men and public broadcasting.  As the heroine takes a ride on the romance rollercoaster, she eventually has an on-camera meltdown during a pledge drive which leads to pandemonium and hilarity. The play runs through Oct. 26 and features Sandy Cockrell, Stephen Hope, Randall Marquez and Clay Cockrell. Stage Manager is Jack Vandewark and Tech Director is Nick Probst; Jacquelyn Bird is choreographer. Continue reading LIVE THEATER -A FROG, DETECTIVE AND HAMLET, TOO! →

Interesting People, Our Community

Operation Christmas Child 2013

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   Michelle Mandaro and her Family fill Shoeboxes with Holiday Gifts for Underprivileged Children

 By Sally Deering

Michelle Mandaro and family
Michelle Mandaro and her children Alexander 9 and Emilie 7 collect items all year long for Christmas Shoeboxes

 

Not all shoeboxes are the same; some hold heels, some hold sneakers; while still others hold toothbrushes, combs, socks and a whole lot of love.

Since 1993, more than 100 million children have received shoeboxes through Operation Christmas Child, a project from the Christian organization Samaritan’s Purse (www.samaritanspurse.com) with more than 100,000 volunteers creating and distributing the shoeboxes  filled with trinkets to put a smile on a child’s face Christmas morning.

Operation Christmas Child brings shoeboxes filled with trinkets – both the necessary and the fun kind – to underprivileged children throughout the country. Participating for the fifth year are Michelle Mandaro – owner of Amelia’s Bistro in Jersey City – her 9 year-old son Alexander, and 7 year-old daughter Emilie.

“My sister-in-law Fortune Mandaro has been doing it for 20 years,” Michelle Mandaro says.  “This is my fifth year doing it with my my children. Last year we created 54 shoeboxes and this year we’re making 60. My kids love shopping for the boxes they love stuffing the boxes, they write letters to the children and they receive letters back.”

Continue reading Operation Christmas Child 2013 →

Dining

Orale’ Mexican Kitchen -Hot Mexican Dishes Served in a Cool Place

   Oralé Mexican Kitchen on Grove St — Hip, Urban and Hot, Hot, Hot!

 By Sally Deering

 

Orale Mexican Kitchen
 Oralé owners Alex Mendelsohn and Louis Alvarez

 

  

Nestled in the middle of Grove Street in downtown Jersey City is one of the coolest restaurants you’ll find in Hudson – Oralé Mexican Kitchen owned by business partners Alex Mendelsohn and Louis Alvarez, restaurateurs who meticulously created a beautiful eatery and a menu of authentic Mexican Cuisine with an American twist.

“We had fun with the fusion of Mexican and American.” Mendelsohn says, giving a visitor a tour of the restaurant. “The most prime example on our menu would be the Casa Gringo. We took the most common American dish, mac and cheese, and incorporated it with chipotle and Mexican cheese sauce.  As a special we did a Mexican version of classic fried chicken. We marinated the chicken in a number of different herbs and chilies and our breading had cinnamon and sugar. It was sweet and salty. We took something fun and twisted it; that was a huge hit.”

Located just a couple blocks from the Grove Street PATH Station, Oralé’s atmosphere is urban hip with red-bricked walls scrawled with big and bold graffiti, a wall of back-lit candy-colored sodas, and images of skulls inside one of the most beautiful dining rooms in the city. By the time you’re seated at one of the dining room tables, Oralé’s ambience has you feeling both relaxed and excited about what’s to come – and the food doesn’t disappoint.   Continue reading Orale’ Mexican Kitchen -Hot Mexican Dishes Served in a Cool Place →

General, REAL ESTATE PROFILES

Fulop Administration Announces $600 Million, Three-Tower Residential Project in Journal Square; Development will Kick-Start Revitalization in Heart of City

Mayor Steven M. Fulop address the attendance at his Ignaugural

JERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop announced today the administration’s plans to bring redevelopment to Journal Square, with a $600 million, three-tower residential project near the PATH station.
The project, by KRE Developers, will see three residential towers rise behind the Journal Square PATH station – on Summit Avenue between Pavonia and Magnolia Avenues. The three-phase project, called Journal Squared, will result in 1,840 market-rate units, as well as 36,000 square feet of retail space. Approximately 700 construction jobs will be created during each of the three phases, with ground expected to be broken later this year on the first phase.

“Jersey City residents have waited years, in fact, decades, for the revitalization of Journal Square,” said Mayor Fulop. “With this project, we will finally see real progress in Journal Square with a major residential development. We made a commitment that the success of development along our Hudson River waterfront would extend throughout the city, into areas like Journal Square and Bergen-Lafayette, and this project is the first example of how we are doing that. ” Continue reading Fulop Administration Announces $600 Million, Three-Tower Residential Project in Journal Square; Development will Kick-Start Revitalization in Heart of City →

General

Mayor Fulop & City of Jersey City to File in Hudson County Superior Court for Waiver of 72-Hour Waiting Period for Marriage Licenses to Allow Same-Sex Marriages to Begin at 12:01 a.m. Monday

JERSEY CITY SEAL LOGOJERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop and the City of Jersey City will file a brief in Hudson County Superior Court at noon today seeking a waiver of the 72-hour waiting period for marriage licenses so that same-sex couples may begin to marry at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 21st.

 On Sept. 27th, Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson granted an emergency request by six gay couples, ordering state officials to begin officiating same-sex marriages on Monday, October 21st.  Her ruling was on the grounds it denied those couples federal benefits by only allowing civil unions.

“This is a civil rights issue and we are seeking legal action on behalf of our constituents whose rights currently are being infringed by the state administration with their delay tactics,” said Mayor Fulop.  “Jersey City has the largest LGBT community in New Jersey and we are intending on being the first to issue licenses and perform weddings on Monday.  The courts have spoke and marriage equality is coming to the Garden State. As elected officials we should be doing everything in our power to ensure all of our residents have the same rights.”

Continue reading Mayor Fulop & City of Jersey City to File in Hudson County Superior Court for Waiver of 72-Hour Waiting Period for Marriage Licenses to Allow Same-Sex Marriages to Begin at 12:01 a.m. Monday →

General, Our Community

Jersey City to Hold Annual Adopt-A-Lot Garden Tour; Tour Includes Eight Community Gardens

 JERSEY CITY SEAL LOGOJERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop announced that the City of Jersey City will celebrate Jersey City’s urban gardeners, who will close out another bountiful season on Saturday, October 19, with the annual Adopt-A-Lot Community Garden Tour. Following the tour, a closing festival will be held at 12 p.m. at UMMI Living Garden, 93 Harrison Avenue.

The tour will begin at 9:45 a.m. at Riverview Community Garden at Riverview-Fisk Park in the Heights. Participants will then visit seven other gardens throughout the city’s six wards.  Bike JC will lead a bicycle ride to each garden and the Recreation Department will provide a shuttle to each site.

“Urban gardening is a model for a sustainable future and I am proud of the work that has allowed gardens to bloom on formerly vacant lots throughout the city,” said Mayor Fulop. “One of the goals of my Keep Jersey City Beautiful initiative is to work with our Division of Planning, Public Works and neighborhood organizations to get more lots adopted as gardens.” Continue reading Jersey City to Hold Annual Adopt-A-Lot Garden Tour; Tour Includes Eight Community Gardens →

General

2013 “RUNNING OF THE SANTAS” SPREADS HOLIDAY JOY BENEFITTING LOCAL CHARITIES

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SITE SEEING: Interesting posts from around the web

Nation’s Hottest Christmastime Event Celebrates Annual “Fun Run” on December 7

 

A group of Santas at the annual running of the santa's race in Philadelphia
Running of the Santas
December 7th in Philadelphia
RUNNING OF THE SANTAS 1
These five Mrs.Claus were at last years “Running of the Santas”

 “Running of the Santas” started in 1998 in the streets of downtown Philadelphia when 40 close friends decided to suit up in holiday décor and go bar hopping. More than a decade and a half later, the “Running of the Santas” event has grown across the world with more than 20 host cities from California to the shores of New Zealand.

 Organizers of the 2013 “Running of the Santas Mega Festival” are predicting a record 10,000 party-goers this year, toppling last year’s Philadelphia event which attracted more than 7,000 revelers. Philadelphia’s premier holiday extravaganza will kick off at Finnigan’s Wake (“The South Pole”) located at 537 N. 3rd Street, where event participants will prepare for a three-block “fun run” at 4 pm  to the Electric Factory (“The North Pole”) located at 421 N. 7th Street. Continue reading 2013 “RUNNING OF THE SANTAS” SPREADS HOLIDAY JOY BENEFITTING LOCAL CHARITIES →

General

BAYONNE RESIDENT FREDDY GARCIA WINS TWO TELLY AWARDS

telly_site_bugs_silverBayonne resident Freddy Garcia Jr. a Television Editor, was awarded not one but two Telly Awards in the 34th Annual event for his outstanding work. With nearly 12,000 entries from all 50 states and numerous countries, this is truly an honor. In the Bronze category Freddy won for “Slauson Our Time”, a featurette on New York Jets football player Michael Slauson and his contributions to the non-profit organization Our Time, which help kids who stutter discover the power of their individual voices and gain the confidence needed to share them with the world.

In the Silver category he won for “Keller Family Fun”, a featurette on the day in the life of football player Dustin Keller and his brother. Freddy is Bayonne High School alumni who went on to study film and graduated with a BA from NJCU. He has been previously nominated for an Emmy for his editorial contributions to Sesame Street’s “Talk Listen Connect”, a series supplying resources and support for military families.

Pet Views

Mayor Fulop Announces 1st Annual Pet Wellness Week;Dept. of Health & Human Services Receives Support from the ASPCA for FREE Rabies Vaccinations

JERSEY CITY SEAL LOGOJERSEY CITY – Mayor Steven M. Fulop and the Department of Health & Human Services is pleased to announce its First Annual Pet Wellness Week, which is being made possible with a $10,000 grant from the ASPCA® (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) that will provide 450 FREE rabies vaccinations for Jersey City dogs and cats. HHS is also partnering with People for
Animals at each of the clinics.

TUESDAY, OCT. 15th, 2 pm to 7 pm, Mary McLeod Bethune Center (140 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., parking lot)
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16th, 2 pm to 7 pm, City Hall Park (280 Grove St.)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17th, 2 pm to 7 pm, Pershing Field (210 Central Ave.)
“Jersey City residents care about their pets and know that healthy pets make a great contribution to the quality of life in Jersey City,” said Mayor Fulop. “Pet Wellness Week is one of our initiatives to help people take good care of their companion animals.” Continue reading Mayor Fulop Announces 1st Annual Pet Wellness Week;Dept. of Health & Human Services Receives Support from the ASPCA for FREE Rabies Vaccinations →

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