Archive of ‘This Weekend in Jersey City’ category

Happy New Year Jersey City!

New Year 2016Jersey City: We’ve had many years of transformation, but 2015 seemed particularly poignant in that it marked an increasingly rapid pace of evolvement.

It’s as if everyone finally realized that Jersey City IS the place to live. We’ve had lots of new businesses with high hopes and big dreams, many of which have been shattered by shuttering or postponment in 2015. Some highly anticipated local venues didn’t even get the chance to open their doors this year, their brick-and-mortar spaces left unfinished and for sale. There were others that did open but couldn’t stay afloat, and many more that will soon open their doors and pray to be vital for more than half of 2016. There are many high-rises in construction in place of condiminium complexes that failed, and other big buildings filling wastleands of rotting, forgotten land. We are in a turbulent flux. Projects started and unifinished, or able to rise only to fall quickly.

In a thriving artist and creative community, it’s such a buzzkill to see beloved businesses or buildings fail, to see “replacement.” Everything is about hurdles and politics and money. Certain talents do not have the opportunity to reach their potential even with hard work and exhaustive effort. Others succeed that are less talented. Education is of particular concern to me. We are living in a bleak bubble that I hope we can break in the years to come.

I want to see our citizens investing their time, their minds and their hard-earned dollars into what truly matters to our rapidly changing community. What does Jersey City mean to you? And how are you contributing to make your home a better place? We have real issues here, and our uniqueness is being squandered by the ever-increasing rich/poor divide. A VIP police officer casually mentioned to me a few months ago that “Crime is at one of its peaks and it’s only getting worse,” a comment I was surprised by considering I had just been mugged outside of my front door and authority figures usually try to be reassuring. No, our officers have been cracking down on major gang crimes, and they are overwhelmed. The media glosses over this, and a lot of us choose to be uninformed because it is, well, overwhelming.

In our diverse community, we need to focus on the things that bring us together, not those that separate us. Let’s get back to our roots. Make an effort to be inclusive to those around you, not just those in your neighborhood or demographic. Jersey City is about inclusivity. It is also about diversity. We are a significant part of America’s history: where immigrants arrived and many settled. We have generations of wealth in terms of history. We are…

Step outside of your box: This is a huge, huge city with many people and so much to see and explore. Expand your mind. “Make it yours,” yes, but contribute to make it a greater “ours.”

On a lighter note, here are my best hangover tips for those who choose to indulge. And my current and previous workout playlists.

Have a Happy & Inspired New Year,
JCG

JC Small Business Luncheon 12/11

So many choices...

The Jersey City Small Business Forum is holding a special luncheon at 12pm this Friday, December 11th at Hudson County Community College (161 Newkirk Street at Sip Ave.).

The forum will address the needs of the Jersey City small business community and raise awareness of financial products and services, and technical assistance available to small businesses in Jersey City, while providing the tools necessary for businesses to remain stable and grow.

Registration and a buffet will begin at 11:30am at the Jersey City Culinary Conference Center in the building.

Mayor Fulop will deliver welcoming remarks, and the event will feature expert panelists from the City of Jersey City, Rising Tide Capital, Jackson Hill Main Street Management Corporation, Investors Bank, and the 504 Company, who will discuss the opportunities and challenges facing small business leaders and owners in Jersey City.

Topics to be covered: Access to capital and technical assistance for small businesses; business and investment planning; tax preparation; how to create your business portfolio and plan for growth, and micro lending opportunities.

This is a not-miss for Jersey City entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Knowledge is power. Knowledge is wealth.
JCG

Kennedy Dancers Christmas Cabaret

 

Photo credit: Tom Horn

Photo credit: Tom Horan

Jersey City’s Kennedy Dancers are presenting their annual “Christmas Cabaret” on December 12 at 7pm and December 13 at 3:00 pm at The Kennedy Dance studio (79 Central Ave.).

Christmas Cabaret is a series dance performances set to holiday music choreographed by Diane Dragone, Artistic Director, Performances will include dances set to the music of Pachelbel’s “Canon in D Major,” Babatundi Ala Tunsi’s “Drums of Passion,” Justine Bieber’s “Under the Mistletoe,” Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas,” Whitney Houston’s “Joy to the World,” with additional choreography by Laurel Zaleski of excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker.”

Ticket prices:
Presale $20
Door: $23

For tickets call (201) 659-2190. This special occasion is a FUNDRAISING event as tickets sales will go towards The Inner City Youth scholarship program for disadvantaged teens who exhibit talent and the passion to be professional dancers.

Keep calm & Cabaret On,
JCG

Holiday Market

JC Project Holiday Market

Project Jersey City hosts its holiday market this weekend, December 5th & 6th in the backyard of City Hall from 11am-6pm.

Vendors are not all participating both days, so check it out when you’re downtown. Find unique gifts for your faves and support local businesses at the same time! What could be better?

And of course, there will be food and beverage vendors to fuel your energy.

project market 2015

Check out what your local businesses are all about, Jersey City!

EAT.SHOP.DRINK. & be merry!
JCG

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