a boat of a different name

For those of you spending your time speculating about HH instead of shutting down your computer and enjoying the holiday weekend with those you love, I will respond with the following:

The name of this blog comes from this story on Salon.com, which I found while researching Hoboken before my partner and I made the decision to move here. The name is catchy, easy to remember, and pays homage to one of Hoboken's greats. A perfect storm if you will.

And as to my motivations for starting this blog in the first place - I thought it would be a great motivator for us to learn more about the city we were moving to. We wanted to engage and explore our new community, instead of just falling into the pattern of 'sleeping' in Hoboken, and 'living' in Manhattan, which so many people tend to do.

To date we've been living here over a year and do not regret our decision. In fact, I think we're happier than we've ever been.

Enjoy the rest of the holiday weekend everyone!

hero quote of the day

"Still, most indications are that Mr. Roberts is the biggest loser so far in a process certain to include sizable tax increases next year."

Click below to read more!

The New York Times: Hoboken, an Economic Success That Can’t Pass a Budget

western edge redevelopment meeting on wed 7pm sharp!

Click the below image to enlarge!


Do you like to give your opinion? Yes, of course you do! Well stop by City Council Chambers at 94 Washington Street at 7pm this Wednesday to discuss the future of the Western Edge Redevelopment plan. Now's your chance to have your voice heard.

Do you want good restaurants? Quality retail? Open space covered with real grass? Perhaps a bicycle fast lane along Monroe Street? Community pool? Do you want to make sure that future retail spaces are larger than what's currently zoned in our Upper Grand buildings, which sit empty because they are not large enough for businesses other than nail salons and dry cleaners? Thought so. Come and hang out on Wednesday evening!

Afterwards, we can do a conga line together back to our neighborhood.

hoboken weathering the storm

Great piece in this weekends New York Times about the Hoboken market weathering the real estate storm, with specific references to our neck of the woods, new developments like the west side's first high rise building (9th and Monroe) and 800 Madison, and of course our new movie theater. A must read. Click here.

Shockingly no mention of Metrostop. Again.

hill valley circa 1955?

No, not exactly. But Marty McFly would definitely have something to be excited about. You are not looking at fresh farmland being turned over for next season's croppage. What you are actually looking at, is quite possibly the beginning of Mr. Hoda's long delayed / future parking garage / condo / retail / current eye sore in all its newly flattened glory. Join me as we take a step back, as we stumble past Dirty Danny Earth Mover. Looks like he's had a busy day:


Gone are the canisters, barrels, miscellaneous galvanized cages, soda cans, hub caps, 5 foot weeds and wild trees that have stagnated on this property for the last few years. Could we be witness to the rebirth of 800 Monroe? A little late in the game but definitely worth the wait?


FYI - the deal the developer has with the city, as part of the Monroe Center of the Arts redevelopment plan that was passed deems this plot of land to be built out first, before any other condo buildings can go up on plots to the south and behind the arts center. Future development calls for hundreds of condos and additional retail where the parking lot currently is. But enough about that. For right now, let's focus on the 800 Monroe block four story garage (which butts up against Fields Crossing) and the attached mixed use residential tower (along the south end of the parcel facing 8th Street). The top of the garage will be 'green space'. Open to the public 'green space'? Who knows.

Could this really be the start of something?

It is also worth noting that the burned out old Bronco is gone as well. While the auto sculpture garden was an interesting idea, something tells me a beat up Chevy with the windows blown out was most certainly frowned upon by the neighbors.


Time to rejoice? Hope so! Pretty soon our little bedroom community is going to wake the hell up and smell the coffee. Starbucks can't be that far behind (wink, nudge) !


Also I'd like to give a shout out to the flux capacitor. Happy Friday everyone!

9th street light rail area has 'most potential' for development

"The detailed study focused especially on five of the station areas — those that researchers considered to have the most potential for development. They are Port Imperial in Weehawken; Ninth Street in Hoboken; the area between the Essex Street and Jersey Avenue stations in Jersey City; the Bergenline Avenue neighborhood of Union City and West New York; and the 34th Street area in Bayonne."

- An exert from a story in The New York Times yesterday about how the light rail has irreversibly changed the course of development along the coast of NJ, and the positive changes that have occurred in people's lives since it's inception.

Our 9th Street / Congress Street stop was mentioned as an area with the most potential for continued development. Very cool.

Do you hear that Starbucks Corporation? Make the smart decision and commit!

clearview cinemas hoboken is actually happening!

Today is quite possibly the most exciting day that HH has had since moving to our quaint little corner of Hoboken. Today is the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Clearview Cinemas Hoboken located on 14th and Adams Street. Everyone will be there, except of course, for me. Because someone has to pay the bills around here and I can't just simply blow off the day job, no matter how excited I may be about this. Seriously, HH is a big movie buff, and the idea of walking a few blocks to see my favorite movies, blockbusters, independents and art house films, gets me as excited as a kid getting to eat two desserts after dinner.

Let's hope Mayor Roberts isn't expensing a giant pair of platinum Tiffany scissors and hand sewn red silk ribbon flown in from Paris for this ceremony, because frankly if anything else gets crammed into our Q4 tax bill, then we won't be able to afford $13 popcorn and Diet Cokes come springtime!

Stay tuned for a full report...

nyc'ers flocking to the gold coast

Anyone catch Max Gross's huge piece in the New York Post's real estate section on Thursday about Hoboken, and our neighboring towns to the north and south? We should all be beating our chests like King Kong, it's a winner. Our massive Upper Grand redevelopment project was mentioned. Sadly, Metrostop was not.

They need a publicist, stat!

Click here to read the article.

take my kids please

There have been rumors floating around, and various inquiries regarding the Monroe Center for the Arts and whether or not a KinderCare Learning Center would be leasing retail space there. Well, HH has on good authority that YES, a KinderCare is indeed moving into our neighborhood this Fall.

I received verbal confirmation several days ago that they would be moving in, and also that it would be a two floor facility, opening sometime in October 2008. After checking KinderCare's website, it is all but certain.

So all of you over-achieving busy bees in double income families with expensive eating habits who occasionally splurge on luxury handbags while also paying large mortgages for new construction condos - COME! ON! DOWN! This Fall, you'll have a place to stash your young ones during the day and after school.

Seriously though this is great news - there are plenty of parents with young ones who would use their services in a heartbeat.

tough day at the office

Looking a little rough on 13th and Adams. Time to replace the linoleum. Maybe new bamboo flooring? I hear it's very environmentally friendly.

This is a giant piece of land, directly across from the Upper Grand development. It's basically a double wide, and cuts Jefferson Street in half. Would be an awesome park, no?

well hellooooo neighbor!

A year ago I introduced you to one of our favorite northwest Hoboken residents - the famous corner ranch mystery. Well, it seems my argument to relocate now has a stronger case. A new neighbor has just popped up, right next door, and boy are they an over achiever or what?! Six stories of wonder!


Progress marches on, and there's something, just....well...I don't know.........oh maybe a weeee little bit awkward about the low-rise scale of this cute one story ranch. Although well maintained, we feel even stronger now that it may be time for her to pack it in and retire to Florida.


Just Sell Already! Or, maybe install a pool on your ranch roof, and the next door neighbor can put up a cool slide from their 6th floor perch? At least for summer maybe? Pool parties rule.

the washington post loves hoboken

Click the link below to read an awesome piece about Hoboken from The Washington Post. You'll want to forward it to all those skeptical friends of yours, because it clearly explains the lure of living here.

The Washington Post - Hoboken, N.J.: Start Spreading The News

snoozefest strip mall

Our new 1 story shopping center going up across from our future movie theater, and next to the 14th Street viaduct, is moving at a glacial pace.

That big mound of dirt on the north side will be the parking lot area:


It's spring, let's get this party started already!


Maybe someone needs to stop by with her blow torch and light a fire under the contractor's keister!

sunblock please

800 Madison has put up some official renderings, tied along the fence around the property. Looks more modern than the other buildlings they have put up, and we like what we see!

One concern though - HH has received several emails about these signs and how they are currently blocking sight lines along Madison when crossing 9th Street. Could cause an accident if drivers aren't careful.


Brick work is moving along nicely! We love the north and south sides, which will be all gray bricks. Very cool. Here's a shot of the Madison Street side:


And of course, our favorite detail so far - the amazing all window corner units:


The renters who move into these corner spots will most definitely be either a) horny exhibitionists, b) 'greenies' who like to use less electricity, or c) those who enjoy getting tan while working from the their home office.

in honor of earth day

Saw this sign the other day - the name change is official. Free tree with each unit rented!


Why do people do this? Just in time for Earth Day!