mmmmmmmmmmm cheeeeeeeeeeeese ...

Chung is hosting a very special goat cheese tasting this Sunday March 30th @ 6pm at The Cheese Store, our local cheese palace at the Monroe Center on Monroe between 7th and 8th Streets. If you'd like to attend, just email info@thecheesestorehoboken.com to get your name on the list. Tickets are $30. Not too bad a price for goat cheese heaven, which franky, is priceless in my opinion. Tell him HH sent you...

The Cheese Store
720 Monroe Street @ Monroe Center for the Arts
201-683-8162

Just a general note - if you haven't stopped by yet to check out his goods, you are missing out big time.

taxi please! please? please i beg you, take me home

I am very happy that I moved to Hoboken. The space, the peace, the proximity to NYC - love it all. I really have no complaints. Except for one major one. Late at night, when I'm in the city and JUST WANT TO GO HOME, it pains me to no end to hop into a cab (if they let me in, of course) and then pay $50 - $60 to get home, even though it only takes 5 minutes to get there. This makes no sense. Really, it's my only major complaint since my move out of Manhattan that I really care about.

Purely and simply - if we had a more economical taxi option home at night, Hoboken would be a much more desirable 'borough' to reside in. But because we are not part of New York state, we get the shaft by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. Well, to open a discussion on this problem, our Assemblyman Ruben Ramos, sent off a letter to the TLC Commissioner/Chair to see if we can improve things. Letter is posted below for you to read. If you would like to add your two cents, click here to send an email to Commisioner Daus yourself. It's quick and painless. And as we know from experience - the only way to affect change is to speak up yourself. Thanks Ruben for reaching out, now let's see if we can get somewhere. I know there are thousands of you who feel exactly like I do. So go ahead and send the TLC an email.

To read related posts on this subject from Hoboken Now (hi Carly!) and New York's Sixth, click the links below. I also encourage Hoboken411 to write about this too - I'm sure his readers would LOVE to chime in on the subject...(ahem, cough, cough)...

Hoboken Now: Ramos calls for cheaper taxis from NYC

New York's Sixth: Just a Cab Ride Away


***************************
March 27, 2008

Mr. Matthew W. Daus
Commissioner/Chair
New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission
40 Rector Street
New York, NY 10006

Commissioner/Chair Daus:

I write hoping to work in conjunction with your office, to address an issue that affects a multitude of residents who reside in the New York City metro area. Specifically, my office has received numerous calls regarding exorbitant fees for taxi rides from Manhattan to New Jersey municipalities that rest immediately outside of both the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels, such as Hoboken, Union City, Weehawken and Jersey City.

In many instances, New York City taxi drivers charge $50 for rides that are only a few short miles and minutes away from destinations within very close proximity to the New Jersey side of the tunnels. Clearly, these fees surpass what a metered ride would cost.

Moreover, the fee for a ride to New Jersey far exceeds the cost for a longer trip within the five boroughs of New York City. Therefore, it is evident that riders to New Jersey are charged rates that are not commensurate with that of riders who stay in New York City, creating an unfair circumstance.

Furthermore, a reduction in taxi fare for riders from New York City to New Jersey makes rides more accessible, offering many benefits such as increased commerce in New York City, reduced driving while intoxicated and raised revenue through toll collection to New Jersey. Also, drivers would not lose money, as additional riders would utilize this service, thereby allowing for more income.

In closing, please note that this issue is one of importance to my constituents, as we continue to share an economy with New York City.

I look forward to your response. Thank you for your attention to this mater.

Sincerely,

Ruben J. Ramos, Jr.
Assemblyman

Cc: Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, The City of New York

7 to 11 shops, not a seven eleven among 'em

The mystery has been solved. Northwest Hoboken is soon to get a new shopping center at 13th and Adams Streets, directly across from our future 5 screen Clearview Cinemas. The shopping center will be one story, seven to eleven stores including a bank (eyes rolling), a liquor store (eyes cross-eyed) and a national coffee chain (eyes not blinking, ever) along with 50 parking spots for all those local residents who like to drive 35 feet from their condo to buy a nice cold 40 ounce and the New York Post. Open by this summer.

Michael Gorman, the developer, mentioned he had the option of going up to 5 stories, including doctors offices, activity centers, etc., however he felt there was a more pressing need for parking.

I've heard comments that this seems misguided. That this is not smart city planning. That this is not encouraging the idea of 'living local'. HH tends to agree. Whatever happened to walking? Every city dweller knows an empty parking lot at night only encourages mischief. Nonetheless, it will be nice to have the additional retail available to us locals.

Also for all your movie obsessives out there - if the DEP approves the movie theater plan shortly, the theater will be built and open for popcorn goodness by the end of the year.

Click below to read the full article in this weeks Hoboken Reporter:

New shopping center near uptown movie theater

finding your quarters in the dark

Two major bits of action at the Monroe Center for the Arts recently. Number one - both buildings received brand new awnings, which are looking very chic and lend an air of consumerism to the area. Above is a pic of the south building's awnings - in burgundy. The northern building, pictured later on in this post - has hunter green awnings. So there is a uniform look, yet a mix of color. Looks good. They need to take some of the shrink wrap off them, but overall, a major aesthetic improvement. Number two, the entire block surrounding the center has just received some shiny new parking meters - which seals the deal on the arrival of our burgeoning new far west retail landscape. Congratulations, we have arrived:


I would like to address a little thorn in my side that I've been thinking about. I've been living in the northwest area for over a year now, and as I've watched all of these large scale developments take shape, which has been so exciting - it is upsetting to see that there are several blocks in my neighborhood that are still without street lights, even though construction has been finished for months if not years. Yet the second the cement dries at Monroe Center, in go parking meters, to help fill up the city coffers. What about the hook ups for new lamp posts? They are STILL EMPTY. Why are we still in the dark?


And another point - why do such a crap job with the cement? Did you put these in during our St. Patty's Day parade after a few sixers of Pabts?


I know it's Friday afternoon and we're about to be hit with a major nor'easter so I may be little bit off today, but I think I have a right to be cranky. Why such a crazy delay in getting in new street lights? Bringing in new revenue for our city is clearly more important than the safety of Hoboken citizens. At least that is the message they are sending.


If only they doubled as espresso makers. Or gumball machines. Then we'd be talkin'...

everyone bring a shovel

Spotted a takedown recently, directly across from the Monroe Center for the Arts. Wonder what's going in its place?

Probably some synthetic turf and a few skinny trees that prevent small children from playing whiffle ball.

900 monroe architect info / renderings

Here are the complete renderings of the newly announced 900 Monroe development. East facing facade above. North facing facade below:


The architect who designed this is Minno & Wasko Architects & Planners, based in Lambertsville, NJ. Click here to visit the 900 Monroe page on their website. Apprently this design is considered to be 'sustainable design' with the hopes of an eventual LEED certification for green building. Two more renderings below - the view west along 9th Street, 900 Monroe in the distance:


West facing facade, which is closest to the light rail platform:


This company was also involved in an Englewood, NJ Extreme Makeover Home Edition episode. Click here to learn more about their good deed!