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Ariel Rivka Dance Performance + Free Interactive Workshop at VIP Diner
Ariel Rivka Dance will perform at VIP Diner in Journal Square, located at 175 Sip Avenue, Jersey City, on January 30th and April 10th from 5PM to 6PM. This will be a free community interactive performance. Food will be available to purchase before and after the performance.
34 News Stories You Missed This Week in Hoboken + Jersey City | February 2, 2025
It is officially February and the countdown to Super Bowl LIX begins now. It has been another week of news in Hudson County, and we’ve got all the headlines to get you caught up, as we do every week — from all around the internet. Among the local news: the Hoboken PATH station closes until February 25th; Don't Tell Liv, a speakeasy-style lounge, opens in Jersey City; and the City of Hoboken opens applications for community development funding. Keep reading for all the news in Hoboken + Jersey City for the week ending on February 2nd, 2025.
Have a news story or press release? Email it to [email protected].
Among the Headlines (read on for the full stories + more):
- Hoboken Pizzeria, Old Lorenzo’s, Just Debuted a Robot to Up its Catering Game
- New Hoboken Gelato Cafe + Bakery, Julietta, to Open in February
- Di Blu Bakery Opens New Baking Studio in Hoboken
- 15th Street in Hoboken Reopens
- Hoboken's 2025 Spring Arts + Music Festival Happening on 5/18
- New Early Learning Center, Greatness Grows, Opens in Hoboken
- New Pet Shop, Barky Way, to Open in Downtown Jersey City
- White House Shares Update on New Jersey Drones' Origins
- Iron Bodyfit to Open First New Jersey Location in Hoboken
- NY Waterway to Name New Ferry After Jackie Robinson
City of Hoboken Opens Applications For Community Development Funding
The City of Hoboken opened applications for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding on January 27th for fiscal year 2025. Per a City of Hoboken press release, this funding, estimated at approximately $1 million based on the 2024 allocation, is provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assist community members with low to moderate incomes and respond to urgent community needs. To apply for CDBG funding, applicants should visit the Hoboken Community Development Block Grant webpage here. Applications are due by March 21st at 4PM.
Hoboken PATH Station Closes for 25 Days Until 2/25
Hoboken’s PATH station, located at 1 Hudson Place, closed on January 30th for various repairs. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) announced the news on October 31st, 2024 saying that the station would close to complete critical track + switch upgrades and station rehabilitation work as a part of the two-year PATH Forward program. The PATH station closed on Thursday, January 30th, 2025, and will remain closed through early morning on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025. Click here for more.
The Waiting Room in Hoboken Just Launched a Valentine’s Day Pop-Up
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The Waiting Room, located at 72 Hudson Street in Hoboken, has transformed into a Valentine’s Day pop-up experience with over-the-top decorations, an exclusive dinner menu, craft cocktails, a mimosa tree brunch, and more. Click here for more.
15th Street in Hoboken Reopens
15th Street from Park Avenue to Bloomfield Street in Hoboken has been closed to vehicular traffic since September 2024 for the construction of the Rebuild by Design Resist structure. School pick-up and drop-off were also affected, and a community meeting was held last year to discuss the ongoing construction ahead of the closures. Now, 15th Street has reopened to Hudson County locals on the afternoon of Thursday, January 30th, 2025. Click here for more.
Nana’s Deli in Jersey City is Providing 50% Off In-Store Purchases in February
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Nana’s Deli, a secret-ish Jersey City pop-up Jewish deli inside of the newly revamped Harborside building on the waterfront, is providing 50% off in-store purchases throughout February. This deli is located inside The District at 210 Hudson Street in Jersey City and is famous for its tuna salad.
Hoboken’s A Wing + A Prayer Chicken Wing Contest Returns After 5 Years
After a five-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Hoboken’s chicken wing contest, A Wing + A Prayer, made a return in 2025. Hosted by St. Francis Church and benefitting Fr. Michael Food Pantry, 11 restaurants from around the Mile Square (and one in Jersey City) competed for the title of “King of Wings.” The event took place on Saturday, February 1st from 6PM-10PM at the Hoboken Elks Club, located at 1005 Washington Street. Click here for more.
New Hoboken Gelato Cafe + Bakery, Julietta, to Open in February
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It may be cold outside, but gelato can be enjoyed at any time of the year (we think so at least). A NYC-based shop serving up Italian gelato, coffee, and baked goods will debut in the Mile Square soon. Julietta Gelato Cafe will be located at 5th and Washington Streets in Hoboken, and signage recently went up in the space. The team also shared with The Hoboken Girl that the gelato shop aims for a February 2025 opening. Click here for more.
NY Waterway to Name New Ferry After Jackie Robinson
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New York Waterway will officially christened its newest ferry, the Jackie Robinson, on Tuesday, January 28th at 11AM at the Midtown Ferry Terminal in Pier 79 in Manhattan. Per the Jersey City Times, the 500-passenger vessel honors the legacy of the Brooklyn Dodgers legend and civil rights pioneer Jackie Robinson. The ferry began service on January 31st, providing additional transportation options during the temporary closure of the PATH station in Hoboken. The Jackie Robinson will operate year-round on various transit and excursion routes.
The Jersey Journal Newspaper Ends Publication After 150+ Years
The Jersey Journal, a once-daily print newspaper founded two years after the Civil War, ceased publication on February 1st. Per Patch Jersey City, the paper's publisher said it could not afford to continue after outsourcing its printing to The Star-Ledger, which has announced it will close its production facility and go solely online starting February 3rd.
White House Shares Update on New Jersey Drones' Origins
For months, New Jersey residents have taken to social media to express concerns about multiple low-flying, car-sized drones floating above their surrounding areas. On January 28th, 2025, the White House issued a statement on the situation. Click here for more.
Minority-Owned Business Participation in Hudson County Courthouse Construction Exceeds Goals
Hudson County Executive Craig Guy and the Board of County Commissioners highlighted the efforts of Minority and Women-Owned, Disadvantaged, Small Business, Veteran, and Local Business Enterprises (XBE) on January 24th in the construction of the Honorable Frank J. Guarini Justice Complex in Jersey City. Per a County of Hudson press release, XBE subcontracts made up 32% of subcontracts awarded, exceeding the goal of 30% XBE participation in its original plans.
Hoboken High School Receives $10K Grant to Expand Computer Programs
The Hoboken Public School District has received a $10,000 grant to expand its computer science programs at Hoboken High School. Per TAPinto Hoboken, this funding, awarded in partnership with Project Lead the Way (PLTW) and Burns + McDonnell, will support the growth of the district’s computer science curriculum, providing students with access to tools, technologies, and hands-on learning experiences. The funding will also help provide students with more opportunities for hands-on learning in areas such as app development, robotics, and software engineering.
County Executive Guy Announces First-Ever Hudson County LGBTQ+ Advisory Task Force
Hudson County Executive Craig Guy has officially formed the first-ever Hudson County LGBTQ+ Advisory Task Force. Per a County of Hudson press release, members of the Advisory Task Force will advise Hudson County leadership to continue making Hudson County a more inclusive, equitable, and supportive environment for the county’s LGBTQ+ community. Members of the LGBTQ+ Advisory Task Force were chosen by a selection committee comprised of officials across Hudson County government. These 17 members have a strong understanding of LGBTQ+ issues and a passion for making Hudson County more inclusive and will meet quarterly each year. The LGBTQ+ Advisory Task Force will hold its inaugural meeting in February.
Hoboken Council Votes for Police Chief’s New $330K Three-Year Contract
The Hoboken City Council voted at the January 22nd meeting to give Police Chief Steven Aguiar a new three-year contract that tops out at $330,000. Per the Hudson County View, the resolution was ultimately approved 7-1, with only 1st Ward Councilman Paul Presinzano voting no.
Hoboken Pizzeria, Old Lorenzo’s, Just Debuted a Robot to Up its Catering Game
Old Lorenzo’s, located at 301 Jackson Street in Hoboken, has served the community since 1996, specializing in large orders and party packs (at really great prices). This family-owned Hoboken pizza shop just debuted a robot to up its catering game. This new addition in the kitchen allows Old Lorenzo’s team to whip up an impressive 60 pies in under an hour, and we got a behind-the-scenes look. Click here for more.
Di Blu Bakery Opens New Baking Studio in Hoboken
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With the opening of its Hoboken studio, Jersey City bakery owner Sofi Di Pinto has achieved one of her career goals. Sofi has operated the bakery out of her Jersey City apartment and now will have a commercial kitchen for baking and hosting baking-centric events. The Hoboken baking studio at 600 Newark Street, 1st floor, is called Di Blu Studio. The bakery is best known for its signature medialunas, and serves up a variety of other Argentine-inspired baked goods available for pickup in Jersey City. Click here for more.
Hoboken's 2025 Spring Arts + Music Festival Happening on 5/18
We know it's still winter, but we’re looking ahead to the spring season here at The Hoboken Girl. The annual Hoboken Spring Arts + Music Festival will return for 2025 on Sunday, May 18th, and locals can shop over 300 artists, crafters, food vendors, and more. The City of Hoboken recently announced that Brenda K. Starr will headline the musical portion of the event. Click here for more.
Hudson Restaurant Week 2025: See the 43 Restaurants Participating
This year’s Hudson Restaurant Week kicked off on Monday, January 27th, and will run through Friday, February 7th. A total of 43 restaurants are participating located in Hoboken, Jersey City, Bayonne, Edgewater, Guttenberg, Harrison, North Bergen, Union City, and Weehawken. Click here for more.
New Early Learning Center, Greatness Grows, Opens in Hoboken
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Greatness Grows, a new early learning center in Hoboken, will host its grand opening on February 2nd from 11AM-3PM. There will be guided classroom tours, exclusive discounts, giveaways, and kid-friendly activities. The daycare center is owned by Gianna Peraza, a public school teacher and resident, and will serve children ages 0-5.
LGBTQ+ Pride Advisory Committee to Host Three Community Events in Hoboken
Photo Credit: Nora Martínez DeBenedetto
Members of the City of Hoboken LBGTQ+ Pride Advisory Committee shared a letter with The Hoboken Girl in response to the recent actions by the federal government. The committee stands in solidarity with transgender and non-binary people, transgender service members, and their families and wants to remind the community that our City’s ordinances, along with New Jersey State law, continue to protect the rights of all transgender and non-binary individuals to be free from discrimination in stores, restaurants, schools, and workplaces. There are three upcoming Community Conversation events, on February 1st from 4:30PM-6PM at Ken Pilates, 706 Washington Street, February 5th from 8:30AM-10AM at Mojo Coffee, 801 Bloomfield Street, and February 10th from 5:30PM-7PM at City Hall, 94 Washington Street, Ground Floor Conference Room.
Redesign Revealed for New Residential Building, 20 Carbon Place, in Jersey City
New renderings have been revealed for 20 Carbon Place, a 12-story residential building on the border of the Greenville and Bergen-Lafayette neighborhoods on the western side of Jersey City. Per New York Yimby, the 138-foot-tall structure will yield 547 market-rate rental units, 276 enclosed parking spaces, 292 bicycle parking spaces, 950 square feet of ground-floor retail space, 14,000 square feet of amenities, and an 8,516-square-foot public plaza. The property is located by the intersection of Carbon Place and West Side Avenue and is currently occupied by a low-rise industrial building and scrap metal yard owned and operated by The Fortune Group. Demolition has yet to begin. A revised construction timeline for 20 Carbon Place has not been announced.
The Jordan in Hoboken Refiles Lawsuit After Dismissal
Rent prices in the Hoboken area have skyrocketed within the past few years, with some neighborhoods charging tenants similar prices to those who live across the Hudson. Such affordability issues have led to a lawsuit surrounding rent control. The parties in this particular suit are The Jordan, a luxury apartment building located at 1200 Clinton Street in Hoboken; the City of Hoboken; and the City’s Rent Leveling + Stabilization Board. As of January 27th, The Jordan has refiled its lawsuit in the Hudson County Superior Court. Unwilling to accept its status as a rent-controlled property, the re-filing took place just eight days after the federal judge's ruling. Click here for more.
Teen Boy Charged in Fatal Shooting of 15-Year-Old Girl in Jersey City
A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old Jersey City girl as she was coming home from a family celebration. Per Patch Jersey City, the juvenile, a Jersey City resident, was arrested on January 23rd in connection with the death of Cianna Lee and the shooting of one of Cianna's female relatives, who survived. The suspect was also charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, and weapons charges.
Don't Tell Liv, a Speakeasy-Style Lounge, Opens in Jersey City
A new bar in Jersey City’s Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza debuted on Friday, January 31st. Don’t Tell Liv is a new, upscale lounge on the second floor of 138 Newark Avenue, just steps away from the Grove Street PATH Station. It was first announced in December 2022, construction was underway in spring 2024, and now we know that Don’t Tell Liv is officially open in Chilltown. Click here for more.
Jersey City Mayor Fulop Delivers Final State of City Address
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Mayor Steven Fulop delivered his 11th annual and final "State of the City Address" on January 30th. Per Patch Jersey City, Fulop is running for governor of New Jersey and said he won't seek another mayoral term. The address was held on January 30th at 6PM in City Hall Council Chambers on Grove Street. Among the issues addressed were rising rents, development, and crime. Mayor Fulop celebrated the historic progress made over the past 12 years in office, raising the bar for what governments can achieve at every level and establishing Jersey City as the economic backbone for the state of New Jersey.
New Pet Shop, Barky Way, to Open in Downtown Jersey City
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Barky Way, Downtown Jersey City's newest pet supply, grooming, and training shop is opening its doors at 277 Newark Avenue on February 3rd. The Historic Downtown Special Improvement District announced via Instagram that a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Barky Way will be held on Monday, February 3rd at 10AM.
City of Hoboken Reveals Engineering Design of Maritime Park Phase I
Photo Credit: City of Hoboken
The City of Hoboken unveiled on January 29th the engineering designs of the first phase of Maritime Park, located at the former Union Dry Dock site along Hoboken’s waterfront. Per a City of Hoboken press release, the designs include a new skatepark with both street and transition/bowl style features, a public plaza inspired by the Palisade Cliffs, a living shoreline to promote educational opportunities and restore natural habitats, and a temporary learning nursery and tree staging area.
Man Found Dead in Hackensack River in Jersey City
A man was found dead in the Jersey City portion of the Hackensack River under the Pulaski Skyway on January 28th. Per a Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office press release, responding officers located a male later identified as Bryan Linington, 49, of Cliffwood, floating in the water. He was removed from the water by the Jersey City Fire Department and was pronounced dead at approximately 7:30PM. At this stage of the investigation, the death does not appear to be suspicious. The Cause and Manner of death are pending the findings of the Regional Medical Examiner's Office.
Iron Bodyfit to Open First New Jersey Location in Hoboken
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A fitness studio with locations in New York City, Florida, and various international cities is opening its first New Jersey outpost in Hoboken. Iron Bodyfit, which specializes in Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS), is set to open this February at 104 Hudson Street, Floor 5. Click here for more.
Appellate Court Revokes NJDEP Waterfront Permit for Hoboken Point
Just a few months after Hoboken Point’s grand opening, a New Jersey Appellate Court issued a decision rescinding the required state waterfront permit on December 9, 2024. Per Fund for a Better Waterfront, Hoboken Point is a 262-unit residential development overlooking Weehawken Cove. In May 2020, Eagle Rock Properties challenged the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) permit application, several years before Hartz Mountain began construction in spite of this and other litigation challenging approvals granted for the project.
Jersey City’s 30th Annual MLK Oratory Contest Happening on 2/3
Jersey City’s Office of Cultural Affairs is hosting the Annual Martin Luther King Oratory Contest, which takes place from February 3rd through February 5th, 2025. To celebrate Black History Month, over 100 elementary and middle school students throughout the city will perform a memorized oration of Dr. King’s writings and speeches in front of a panel of judges. This event will occur at the City Hall Council Chambers in Jersey City, located on the 2nd floor at 280 Grove Street. Click here for more.
Jersey City Woman + Two Children Killed
A woman and two small children were killed on January 29th in Jersey City by a man who then tried to stab himself. Per NJ.com, Luisa Urbano, 31, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her two children, nine-year-old Juan Martin Urbano and five-year-old Diana Ramirez, were taken to Jersey City Medical Center where they were pronounced dead. A fourth person, later identified as the suspect, 31-year-old Napoleon Romero-Anduray, was also found in the apartment with injuries. He has been arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder, in addition to possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon.
Hoboken's Attain Medspa is Going to Super Bowl LIX
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Attain Medspa announced on Instagram that it’s going to Super Bowl LIX. The medical spa will treat the Super Bowl’s VIP NFL players, their families, and its Sports Illustrated Swimsuit family. To celebrate the occasion, services are on sale now through February 10th. Services must be redeemed within three months of February 15th. Services may be booked via DM, phone, or email at [email protected].
Jersey City Man Charged with Enticing a Minor to Engage in Sexual Activity
A Jersey City man was charged with enticing a minor after exchanging explicit pictures and videos last summer. Per the Hudson County View, Ryan Niksa, 34, of Jersey City, was charged in a one-count complaint with enticement of a minor to engage in sexual activity. He had an initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Leda Dunn Wettre in Newark federal court on January 29th and was ordered detained. In August 2024, Ryan communicated with a minor victim located in another state through social media applications and text messages.
