Ghana Flag Raising Ceremony
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
City Hall Council Chambers, 280 Grove Street, Jersey City
Community/Cultural
Official ceremony celebrating Ghana’s independence at Jersey City City Hall.

Fastlife After Work Party
5:00 PM
The Ashford, 145 Newark Avenue, Jersey City
Nightlife
After-work social event featuring DJ Fastlife, Smoke Black, and Ralphie Mercado.

Christine Santelli & Heather Hardy Live
7:30 PM
Location: 503 Social Club, 503 3rd Street, Hoboken
Live Music (Blues/Americana)
A soulful evening with Grammy-nominated songwriter Christine Santelli and violinist Heather “Lil’ Mama” Hardy.
Cost: $20 advance / $25 at door; BYOB.

All That Roxx Live
9:00 PM
Pig and Parrot Last Resort, 125 Washington Street, Hoboken
Live Music
High-energy live performance by the band All That Roxx.
Visit Hudson NJ

Saturday, March 7, 2026
Spring Craft Beer Tasting
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: Pint Bar, 34 Wayne Street, Jersey City
Type: Food & Drink
Description: Hosted by the Jersey City Kiwanis Club, featuring a selection of spring craft beers.

2026 St. Patrick’s Day Parade (JC)
Time: 1:00 PM
Location: Jersey City
Type: Parade/Holiday
Description: The annual Jersey City St. Patrick’s Day celebration through the city streets.

Hoboken LepreCon Bar Crawl
12:00 PM
Various Bars, Hoboken
Social/Holiday
The massive annual St. Paddy’s themed bar crawl across Hoboken.

Where Deep Waters Cross featuring Carolyn Dorfman Dance
7:30 PM
White Eagle Hall, 337 Newark Ave, Jersey City
Dance/Multidisciplinary
A collaboration between Carolyn Dorfman Dance and Jersey City Poet Laureate Rashad Wright.

Chess Tournament at Cafe Lafayette
10:00 AM
Cafe Lafayette, 74 Maple Street, Jersey City
Competition
Description: Competitive tournament with cash prizes for the top three finishers.



Sunday, March 8, 2026

(International Women’s Day)
Siren Song: International Women’s Day Celebration
1:00 PM
902 Brewing Co., 101 Pacific Avenue, Jersey City
Live Music & Art
Showcase of local women-fronted musical acts and artists to raise funds for women’s initiatives.

In Her Footsteps: A Celebration of Women in History
Time: 1:00 PM
Museum of Jersey City History, 298 Academy Street, Jersey City
Immersive Multimedia/History
Interactive experience featuring actors portraying influential women from history.

International Women’s Day Run (5K)
10:00 AM
Overpeck County Park, 40 Fort Lee Road, Leonia (near Secaucus)
Fitness/Charity
Inaugural 5K run/walk benefitting JBWS survivors of domestic abuse.

The Currys Live
3:00 PM
Hoboken
Live Music (Indie Folk-Rock)
Description: Harmony-driven performance by the indie band The Currys; kids are welcome for free.
Cost: $20

The post Events for Jersey City, Hoboken, Bayonne and Secaucus For Friday, March 6th, Saturday, March 7th, and Sunday, March 8th 2026 first appeared on River View Observer.

 In 2005, Mickelson and his wife, Amy partnered with ExxonMobil to develop a hands-on professional development program for third-through fifth-grade teachers. At the Academy, the teachers spend five, all-expense-paid days learning new ways to teach math and science to engage students in these critical subjects at an early age.                                 

Friday, July 22, 2011 1:00 p.m.
Liberty Science Center
                                    Williams Science Theater

222 Jersey City Blvd,
Jersey City, N.J. 07355

The need to develop more students interested in pursuing careers in math and science is important to our nation’s competitiveness and a key concern of the Mickelsons. 

 The Academy is designed to encourage and build confidence in teachers with math and science so that they can return to their classroom and inspire their students in these critical subjects.

 About ExxonMobil Foundation

ExxonMobil Foundation is the primary philanthropic arm of the Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United States. The Foundation and the Corporation engage in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, health and science in the communities where ExxonMobil has significant operations. In the United States, ExxonMobil supports initiatives to improve math and science education at the K-12 and higher education levels.

 Globally, ExxonMobil provides funding to improve basic education, promote women as catalysts for economic development, and combat malaria and other infectious diseases in developing countries. In 2010, together with its employees and retirees, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), its divisions and affiliates, and ExxonMobil Foundation provided $237 million in contributions worldwide, of which $110 million was dedicated to education. Additional information on ExxonMobil’s community partnerships and contributions programs is available at www.exxonmobil.com/community.

 Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation

Phil and his wife, Amy, teamed up with the ExxonMobil Foundation to develop a new and innovative program to improve science and math education in elementary schools. The program will offer advanced training in science and mathematics instruction for elementary school teachers chosen from the communities around the country where Mickelson will be playing tournaments. Web site: www.PhilMickelson.com.

 About NSTA

The Arlington, VA-based National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), www.nsta.org, is the largest professional organization in the world promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. NSTA’s current membership includes more than 60,000 science teachers, science supervisors, administrators, scientists, business and industry representatives, and others involved in science education.

Math Solutions

Math Solutions, founded in 1984, has provided a wide range of professional development services and resource materials to more than 500 districts, in 47 states, helping more than 100,000 teachers and administrators across the country. Web site: www.mathsolutions.com.

The post PGA Golfer Phil Mickelson to Make Appearance at 2011 Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy first appeared on River View Observer.

Jersey City Mayor Jerrimiah Healy(L) holds a “Street Sweeper”  automatic gun with a 30 round clip and Jersey City Police Chief Thomas J. Comey (R) holds a “Pump Action Shotgun” which can kill as many as the street sweeper within three rounds being fired.

Photo’s by Steveamack.com

Jerramiah T. Healy and police officials displayed 65 firearms taken into custody today, including a dangerous machine gun pistol called a “Street Sweeper”, all of which were gathered during Day 1 of the cityâ€s gun buyback program.

“I have to commend the citizens who turned in these weapons because at any turn they could end up for whatever reason in the hands of a lawbreaker or being used in the heat of the moment during a dispute,” said Mayor Healy, who launched LifeSaver I early into his administration in 2005 where police recovered more than 900 guns.

“Like many good things, there will always be critics who don’t support this initiative, but would they rather have these weapons being collected by cops or in the hands of someone who has nothing but bad intentions for them?”

The cache of weapons collected was paid for absence of tax payer dollars and solely on the donations of local residents, businesses and a grant from the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office.

“If you look at the capability of the ammunition of one of the weapons we recovered you have to say it is a success,” said JCPD Chief Tom Comey. “The damage that could be caused by that one Mac 10 – the devastation could be immeasurable to the community. And the ammunition, hollow points are designed to cause extreme soft tissue damage once it enters your body. We are pleased by the turnout because these things are no longer available to the criminal element of our society.”

Gun Buyback II continues on July 23 from 12 noon to 4 pm. To turn in your weapons during the suggested time report to the locations: St. Joseph’s Church, 511 Pavonia Avenue; Monumental Baptist Church 121 Lafayette Street; and Heavenly Temple Church, 15 MLK Drive in Jersey City.

 

The post Machine Gun Pistol, Hollow Points Highlight Haul of Weapons in Jersey City first appeared on River View Observer.

Just for you Free Shows, Movies and Other Happenings on the Jersey Side

By Sally Deering

Well, its summertime and that means blowing up beach balls and dashing to the sandy Jersey shore to slather on sunblock and frolic in the Atlantic’s waves. But for urban dwellers who can’t slip away for some beach blanket bingo, there are plenty of fun and free activities in Hudson to help you enjoy the sunny days and balmy nights ahead

 Hoboken’s Cultural Affairs Department offers movies, kids’ shows, even Shakespeare in the park

 Family Fun

Free Outdoor Performances 

Shipyard Park, 13th Street & McFeeley Drive

June 28 – Mother Goose, rhymes, songs and stories, www.after3theatre.org; July 12 - The Hey Ya Brothers, slapstick comedy, www.heyyabrothers.com; July 19 - Yosi, kids sing-along, www.yosimusic.com; July 26 – The Fuzzy Lemons, family-friendly rock band, www.thefuzzylemons.com; Aug 2 – Music Together, music and movement for babies and toddlers, www.musictogether.com; Aug 9 - Big Jeff & the Bouncy People, singer-songwriter, www.bigjeffmusic.com; Aug 16 - Starfish, kids/family band, www.myspace.com/rockwithstarfish; Aug 23 – Americana Family Jamboree, bluegrass and folksongs, www.facebook.com/americanafamilyjamobree

 

Movies under the Stars 2011

Pier “A” Park, First St. and Frank Sinatra Drive

Bring a blanket or comfortable low-back chair. Picnic yes; booze no.

Wednesdays, June & July at 9 pm; Aug, at 8:15 pm

June 29: Breakfast at Tiffany’s; July 13: The King’s Speech; July 20: The Social Network; July 27: Waiting for Superman; Aug 3: The Wizard of Oz (8:30); Aug10: Despicable Me (8:15); Aug 17: Tangled (8:00); Aug 24: Toy Story 3 (8:00)

 Concerts in Sinatra Park

Sinatra Drive between 4th & 5th Sts

Performances: Thursdays, 7-9pm

June 30: The 63rd Army Band, patriotic & popular tunes; July 7: Hoboken Summer Bash hosted by Frank Raia; July 14 – Ernie Contri sings the Best of Sinatra; July 21: Gene D’ Plumber, Tex Mex-abilly; July 28: Guitar Bar All-Stars; Aug. 4: Son Nueve; Aug. 11: The Gordys; Aug 18: The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra; Aug. 25: Swingadelic

 Shakespeare in the Park

Sinatra Park, 7 pm

The Hudson Shakespeare Company, www.hudsonshakespeare.homestead.com

July 25, Aug. 1: “Henry V”; Aug 15, 22: “Tymon of Athens”

 Theatre in the Park

Sinatra Park, 7 pm

The Theatre Company of Hoboken

www.thetheatercompany.org

July 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 31

Music of “Grease” 

 Kayaking

Maxwell Place Park, 11th & Sinatra Drive

July 9, 1-7pm; July 23, 12-6pm; Aug. 7, 12:30-6:30pm; Aug. 21, 1-5pm

  The City of Bayonne presents summer concerts by the bay

and a family film series

 Summer Sounds by the Bay Concert Series

DiDomenico 16^th Street Park

www.bayonnerec.com

Thurs, June 30; Wed, July 6-Aug 17, 7 pm

Bring your own chairs

June 30: John Christian and Soiree; July 6: Cashmere; July 13: Mickey Perry Band, Black 47; July 20: Soul Generation, Jazzique; July 27: Bayonne Senior Orchestra, North Jersey All-Star Big Band; Aug 3: Running Dog; Aug 10: Alan Quinn and Quinntessence; Aug 17: Fantasy

Summer Film Series

Bayonne Public Library

697 Avenue C
Bayonne, NJ 07002-5899
201-858-6970
O’Connor Gallery, 1 pm

June 29: The Philadelphia Story; July 13: The King’s Speech; July 20: The Social Network; July 27: Red; Aug 3: Megaminds; Aug 10: Despicable Me; Aug 17: Tangled; Aug 24: Toy Story 3

 Jersey City has lots to offer including films, festivals, fishing and dance parties

 Films under the Stars in Van Vorst Park

Montgomery St & Jersey Ave

Wednesdays, June-July at 8:30 pm; Aug at 8 pm

Bring a blanket/lawn chair

www.filmsinvanvorst.com

July 6: To Kill a Mockingbird; July 20: Inception; Aug 3: The Art of the Steal; Aug 17: Toy Story 3; Aug 31: Secretariat

 Egyptian Festival

Journal Square PATH Plaza

Kennedy Blvd & Pavonia Ave

Sat, July 2, 10 am-6 pm

www.egyptianfestivaljc.com

Traditional Egyptian music and dance, children’s entertainment, and posters, drawings, and photographs of ancient and modern Egypt will be exhibited courtesy of the Tourist Department of the Egyptian Consulate

 Fishing at the Jersey City Reservoir

Jefferson Ave Gate at Summit Ave

Saturdays through Sept. 24, 10 am-2 pm

www.jcreservoir.org

Jersey City Reservoir Preservation Alliance offers free fishing – catch and release only please! – at the 13-acre reservoir located in the Heights District, a family park of wildflower meadows and a nature preserve and beautiful lake. Fishing gear is available to use for free

 Saturdays Swing in Jersey City

Grassroots Community Space

54 Coles St
Class & Dance Party: $20; Dance Party Only: $5

No Partner Required

www.theartistslab.com

How about a night of swing dancing. Each week the class will include a basic “crash course” followed by a class including variations in pattern, footwork and lead/follow technique. The dance party will include swing music for all styles of swing. If you like lindy hop, east coast swing, west coast swing, jive, balboa, foxtrot, shag…you’ll love Saturdays Swing with The Artists’ Lab! 

 City of Water Day 2011

Sat, July 16, 10 am-5 pm

Liberty State Park

Audrey Zapp Drive

www.cityofwaterday.org

3rd annual City of Water Day festival features free boat tours on historic and educational vessels; free public kayaking and rowing; fishing demonstrations; a special children’s fair with waterfront activities & events; the Waterfront Action Fair and advocacy workshops; food from Vendy-award winning vendors; and live music

 Secaucus hosts music throughout the summer

 2011 Summer Music Series

Buchmuller Park

7 pm

July 7:  The Infernos; July 14: The Happenings; July 21: 45-RPM; Jul 22-24, (5-7 pm at the PAC) National High School Teen Idol; July 28: British Invasion: Aug 4: Show Stoppers (at PAC); Aug 11: Cameos; Aug 18: Jersey Sound; Aug 25: David Aaron Orchestra; Sept 8: Bobby and the Jets (at the Plaza at Harmon Cove)

 Weehawken serenades locals with headliner concerts, summer sports clinics for kids and swims for adults

 Summer Concerts on the Hudson

Lincoln Harbor Park on the Weehawken Waterfront

www.hrpac.org

Wednesdays at 7 pm

Bring a lawn chair and get there early for a spot!

July 6: Gary U.S. Bonds and the Roadhouse Rockers with special guest Finish This; July 20: Paquito and Friends (Weehawken’s own Paquito d’Rivera); Aug 10: Fusion Tango; Aug 29: Broadway on the Hudson

 Fundamentals for the Beginning Golfer

Waterfront Complex

Port Imperial Boulevard

www.weehawken-nj.us

Tues & Thurs: July 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26

Ages 8 – 12: 10 – 11 am; Ages 13 – 17: 11am – 12 Noon

Fundamentals for the beginning golfer; chipping, putting and full swing techniques

 Two-Week Soccer Clinic

Waterfront Complex

Port Imperial Boulevard

Tues, July 5-Friday, July 15

Ages 5 – 7; 11 – 13

9 am-12 Noon; and 1- 3 pm

Mon, July 18-Fri, July 29

Ages 8 – 10, 9am – 12 Noon

 Adult Swimming at Steven’s Institute of Technology

Pool and Fitness Center at Schaefer Athletic Center, Hoboken

Register at the Weehawken Recreation Office, 372 Park Ave

Proof of Weehawken residency and photo ID required.

18 years and older

For more info, 201-319-6061

 Recreational Field Trips

www.weehawken-nj.us

Wed, July 13: Swimming and Picnicking at Bear Mountain State Park; Tues, July 19: Swimming and picnicking at Island Beach; Thurs, Aug 4: Swimming and picnicking at Highpoint State Park;

 Bingo under the Stars for Senior Citizens

www.weehawken-nj.us

Wed, July 13: At the Nutrition Center; Wed, Aug 17 at 525 Gregory Avenue

Seniors play for prizes 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The post Summer Fun Jersey Style first appeared on River View Observer.

New Play at LaMama in New York based on The Carmelettes, the 1950s All-Girl Doo-Wop Group from Jersey City

 

“When I was 15, I started writing my own material,” Murphy says, “and somehow I knew I was going to come to this story at some point in my life.”

Murphy’s full-length play about her mother’s experience as a doo-whop singer began 20 years ago, she says, when she was invited to perform a 10-minute monologue on her story of choice and she chose to talk about her mother’s singing career. Ten years later, she started thinking of that monologue and the play began to take shape.

“I always had my mother’s records and they were always fascinating to me,” Murphy says. “It was family history and even more, it was my voice that I heard on those records. When I would research songs for the kind of music that I perform, I always came back around to my mother’s music and that’s when I decided that I needed to tell this story. And the more I worked on this play, the more I began to think about all the other uncelebrated people in this world. We live in an ‘American Idol’ society and there are people sitting behind desks, teaching school, who have amazing gifts and you just don’t know about them. That’s become very interesting to me.”

Growing up, Murphy wanted to be a rock star, she says. And because of her experience as an undergrad in the experimental theater division of NYU’S Tisch School of the Arts, Murphy’s career path turned into a search for belonging that included singing in New York’s cabaret rooms like the Eighty Eights and doing theater and music gigs that didn’t fit one particular genre.

“I was never a cabaret performer, per se,” Murphy says. “I would sing in cabarets and end up doing a U2 song. Then I would sing Standards in rock clubs. My tastes were eclectic.”

During all that time, Murphy says, the stories of her mother’s life as a doo-whop singer would always come back to her. Even though the play is called “Girl/Group…” her mother’s trio, The Carmelettes was really a pre-girl group. pre-Supremes, pre-Shirelles and pre-Shangri-Las.

In the mid-1950s, The Carmelettes received their name from their parish priest at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel church where they sang in the choir. They signed with Alpine, a subsidiary of Epic Records and recorded their first songs. That’s when Neil Sedaka chose them to sing back up for his song “Oh Carol,” a tune he wrote about singer/songwriter Carole King.  Although not much is written about The Carmelettes, according to Angela LaPrete Murphy, “We sang backup on ‘Oh Carol’ and then were asked to duplicate the sound on ‘Oh, Neil.’ At that time, Virginia had already left the group. Vicky and I did a great deal of backup with Carole King for other artists.”

Beatrice Verdi, Virginia Verga’s sister wrote songs for them, arranged the vocals, and went on to become a successful songwriter, Susan Murphy says: “She was unbelievable. She was writing four-chord doo-wop stuff, the harmonies were insane and these little girls did them. One of their records is now up on eBay for 50 bucks.”

The Carmelettes continued to do back up and record their own songs. When they recorded “Promise Me a Rose” at Columbia Studios in New York, singer Anita Bryant recorded the same song and the DJ pulled The Carmelettes version off the air. Similar to most girl groups like the Shangri-Las, The Carmelettes/Kittens disbanded and moved on with their lives.

“It’s because of The Carmelettes that I discovered a personal love for all types of music,” Murphy says, “and a deep respect for the path my mother paved all those years ago so that other girl groups could follow.”

And although her career as a doo-whop singer became a treasure trove of memories in a box of 45s, Angela LaPrete Murphy made sure the music never stopped playing in the Murphy household.

“I always knew doo-wop because it was always playing in our house,” Murphy says. “And my mother always sang. In fact, everybody always sang in my house. Even though we weren’t music professionals – except for my mom – we would bust out in songs.”

Girl/Group: A Daughter’s Tale

June 17-26,

Fri & Sat 10 pm; Sun 5:30 pm

Tickets $18

LaMama’s The Club

74A East 4^th Street

(Btw Bowery & 2^nd Ave)

New York City

212-475-7710

Tickets can be purchased online at www.lamama.org/theclub

 

To view a short video about the show on YouTube, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJfqW2Toh9A

 

 

 

 

           

 

The post Golden Girls of Doo-Wop- The Carmelettes inspire new play first appeared on River View Observer.

On Sunday June 12th the 65th Annual Tony Awards were held at the Beacon Theater and our Photographer Steve Mack was there to capture all the excitement.
Hudson County Nominee Tammy Blanchard arrived at the Red Carpet as did Al Puccino, Christie Brinkley, Lynn Redgrave, Kelsey Grammer, Brooke Shields, John Legusiamo, and others.

See all the photo’s by Steveamack.com

 

 

More photo’s to come

The post 65th Tony Awards- River View Observer was there! first appeared on River View Observer.

Bill Sorvino – A Dream of a Film Festival

by Sally Deering

 Ideas sometimes come to us in dreams and that’s exactly how Bill Sorvino conceived the Golden Door International Film Festival to be held in Jersey City in October. What started as images flickering in his sleeping mind will now be images flickering on the silver screen.

 “I had a dream last year about having a film festival in Jersey City,” Sorvino says,” and it was like lightning in a bottle. Jersey City is close to my heart. I grew up here and my family has a 100-year history here. I want Jersey City to have something in its own right.”

 

Dreaming of a film festival is not much of a stretch for Sorvino. He’s a screenwriter and actor who studied at the William Esper Studios in New York City and has appeared in several indie films. He also hails from a theatrical family – his uncle is celebrated actor Paul Sorvino and he’s cousin to Academy Award winner Mira Sorvino – and throughout the years Bill Sorvino shared conversations with his Uncle Paul and cousin Mira about film, theater and acting held during family gatherings at the dinner table.  

“My uncle had a farm in Pennsylvania and I would go and hang out and we would eat and talk,” Bill Sorvino says. “One weekend, Mira, my Uncle Paul and Mira’s husband were at his house down the shore and my uncle was holding an (impromptu) class on acting. We were sitting there mesmerized by his depth of knowledge.”

 Not everyone who comes from Jersey City wants to come back and shine a light on the talent here. Usually star-struck wannabees head to Los Angeles and carve their niche there. But Sorvino’s different – his passion for Jersey City and the place where he grew up and his love for film and theater and his uncle Paul and cousin Mira are key factors to his dream. Sorvino and his Uncle Paul are very close – and it’s quite likely festival-goers in October will get a chance to see Paul Sorvino at the festival’s closing night gala at Loew’s Jersey City, the restored movie palace in Journal Square and one of the venues for the festival’s screenings.

The Golden Door International Film Festival will take Jersey City by storm from Oct 13^th through October 16^th – where four local venues will unroll the red carpet to film stars, celebrities and film-goers screening films by local and international filmmakers. It’s a juried competition with awards given out in ten categories including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor/Actress and Best Cinematographer. Still in the preliminary stages – the venues have been chosen and film submissions are pouring in and Sorvino, who grew up in downtown Jersey City and attended Hudson Catholic high school and St. Peter’s College, wants to encourage local filmmakers to submit their films. Comedies, dramas, documentaries, animations and short films are welcome as are student films.

Filmmakers can submit their films to the Golden Door International Film Festival by going to the website www.withoutabox.com an online submission system for film festival and screenplay competitions. Film Festival directors like Sorvino use the website to manage their festivals and for filmmakers it’s the go-to-place to enter the festival, upload their films and PayPal their entry fee. (Deadline for submissions to the Golden Door International Film Festival is July 1, 2011; entry fee is $50.)

“Everyone goes to withoutabox.com if you are going to put on a festival or submit to a festival,” Sorvino says. “They do the money transactions and post the checklist of submission requirements. It makes it easier to screen the films, too.”

 Festival Highlights

The Golden Door International Film Festival will screen film submissions in Jersey City at the beautifully restored Loew’s Jersey City movie palace in Journal Square; Michael Anthony’s restaurant on the waterfront; LITM restaurant, a hip bistro on Newark Avenue; and Bar Majestic, a cozy gathering place across the street from City Hall on Grove Street.

“Another thing I’ve really come to love about planning the film festival is getting to meet the owners of these places,” Sorvino says. “These owners want to create a better sense of community and have an artistic insight.”

So far, Sorvino has received submissions from all over the globe including South Africa, India, Austria and England and several from local filmmakers. Although the roster of films that will be screened hasn’t been chosen yet (filmmakers will be notified Aug 1^st) several submissions have caught Sorvino’s eye including “Street Corner Harmony” a documentary by Abraham Santiago and Steven Dunham about Doo-Wop groups of the 1950s narrated by record producer Wayne Stierle; and “Night Club” a film by San Borowski starring Ernest Borgnine, Mickey Rooney, Lance Howard and Clint Howard (Ron Howard’s father and brother,) Sally Kellerman (‘Hot Lips’ in the film “M.A.S.H”) and Bill Sorvino’s uncle Paul Sorvino.

Members of Jersey City’s arts community are also joining in to support the festival. At the closing night gala at Loew’s Jersey City a panel of judges, including John Dapolito of Jersey City, who teaches acting and script analysis in New York, will give out awards. Members of the Golden Door International Film Festival’s Board of Advisors will also be on hand including Christine Goodman, Founder/Director of Art House Productions in Jersey City; Eileen Gaughan, administrative aide for the Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs; and Joseph Calamito, publisher of the Riverview Observer newspaper and website.

 “I’m holding it in Jersey City, because for me, when I was growing up here downtown was terrible,” Sorvino says, “and in 2007, I came back and saw the changes. It’s amazing what can happen when there’s group effort, community pride and positive energy moving forward. You have a vibrant artist community in Jersey City, great bars and restaurants. It’s like a little Manhattan. I want to make movies here. I tell everybody I know in the business, we have to look at Jersey City as a location to make films.”

To Sorvino, Jersey City could easily become the new go-to destination for filmmakers on the East Coast. All it takes is a festival and a dream.

Submit your Film

Golden Door Film Festival

Film Submissions:  Go to www.withoutabox.com  or  www.goldendoorfilmfestival.com

Deadline:  July 1, 2011

Fee for Submission:  $50

Notification:  Filmmakers will be notified Aug 1, 2011 if their films have been accepted to the competition

The post Golden Door International Film Festival Director Invites Filmmakers to Screen Their Dreams in Jersey City first appeared on River View Observer.

Dining Italiano with Frankie and Dino on the Juke!

By Sally Deering

 The Barge Inn is a warm and cozy Italian restaurant on the corner of 3^rd and Monmouth Streets in Jersey City that offers lovers of Italian cuisine authentic family recipes in an atmosphere that makes you feel like you were invited to dinner at a friend’s home. And that’s just the way Linda and Peter “Bitzy” Paldino and Linda’s brother Richie Marto, who oversees The Barge Inn’s bar around the corner, want you to feel.

 Linda and Bitzy have been married 31 years and not only are they partners in life, they’re partners in business. They have a son Richard who is  a Detective on the East Orange Police Force for 6 years. Bitzy and Linda  have worked side-by-side for many years and  they even created one of the house specials named for him: Pork Chops Bitzy served with potatoes, onions, sweet and hot peppers ($22). The menu and a blackboard of daily specials offer variations of seafood, meat and poultry dishes that are cooked to order and made with fresh ingredients delivered that day.

 “Running the business has made us closer,” Linda says. “We’re partners every day and the reason it works is because we cut each other slack. We work hard. We’re here six days a week day and night.”

 With the aromas of fresh garlic and other seasonings wafting from Chef Peter Michielini’s kitchen, The Barge Inn’s small dining room beckons patrons to take their coats off and relax.  And as soon as you do, one of the waitresses – Eileen Gallo and Maureen Doyle – arrive at your table and take your drink order with a smile. It gets better from there. Not only is the service friendly and efficient, the atmosphere is warm and fun with Sinatra and Dino singing tunes from the corner Jukebox.

 “This is the ‘Cheers’ of Jersey City,” Eileen says as she serves a customer the house salad dressed in a light vinaigrette made with pecorino cheese, fresh garlic and Sea Salt. “Everybody knows everybody’s name.”

For appetizers, there are Fried Clams on the Half Shell (12 for $15; 6 for $8) Mussels Marinara (sweet or hot for $15) Shrimp Cocktail, Clams Oregonato, Shrimp Scampi and Sauteed Long Hot Peppers ($5-$15.) The Fried Calamari ($15) was absolutely delicious, moist and tender, in a light, crunchy breading. It came with a side of homemade tomato sauce seasoned just right for dipping. The Broccoli Rabe appetizer ($8) had just the right hint of garlic and olive oil and tasted like it was just pulled from the garden.

Seafood entrees feature Basa Oreganato, Shrimp Oregonato Fra Diavalo, Shrimp Marinara, Fried Shrimp ($20-$22) and Fresh Lobster Tails (market price.) If you try anything at The Barge Inn, make it the Fried Shrimp. They come topped with tomato sauce (the family’s “gravy” recipe) and mozzarella cheese and they were sensational.  The shrimp were not upstaged by the light breading and the texture of the shrimp burst with flavor with every bite.

Pasta lovers can choose from the Stuffed Rigatoni with Vodka Sauce; Homemade Cheese Ravioli with Vodka Sauce, Penne with Vodka Sauce and Linguini with Red or White Clam Sauce ($13-$18).  The Homemade Cheese Ravioli were big and the cheese filling quite tasty.

Along with Pork Chops Bitzy, meat dishes include Chicken ala Barge with prosciutto, mozzarella, pimentos and mushrooms; Chicken Milanase, Chicken Savoy, Veal ala Barge, Veal Scallopini (red or white) and NY Strip Steak ($18-$24).  

There are Sides to choose from like Sausage or Meatballs ($4) and daily blackboard specials like Grilled Scallops ($20) Eggplant Rollitini with Pasta ($17) and Prime Rib ($19). Many of The Barge Inn’s recipes are those of Linda’s mother Maria Marto, like the “Sunday Sauce” which is the tomato sauce that’s made with  meatballs, sausage and pork. After the meats are cooked and removed, the sauce continues to blend the flavors of the meat which heightens its flavor. The cheesecake ($5) is Bitzy’s mother Lucille Fierro’s recipe and served on the dessert menu with Cannolli ($5) and Tartufo ($5).

The Barge Inn offers special nights, like Prime Rib night and their All You Can East Pasta night where for $7.95 you get a glass of wine, salad, appetizer and pasta served in the Sunday Sauce.

 “We’ve been doing that special a long time, but I don’t want to change it because the customers love it,” Linda says.

 Two regulars, Gina and Michael Lindsay of Jersey City say the first time they dined at The Barge Inn they felt like they were walking into someone’s home and they bring friends and relatives from out of town to show off how great the food is. Gina says, “They serve the best Veal Parmigiana I’ve ever had.”

 “It’s our neighborhood restaurant and our favorite place to be,” Michael adds.

 The Barge Inn has come a long way since John Marto opened the family business in 1961.

“When my father started the business, it was strictly seafood,” Linda says. “That’s why they called it The Barge.”

 One thing Linda, Peter and Rich have carried on from back in the day is their passion for serving delicious Italian food and their appreciation for their customers.

 “We have a good time here,” Linda says. “We love our customers.”

 The Barge Inn

324 3^rd Street

Jersey City, NJ

201-420-3268

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