June 2015 archive

Cork & Canvas: My trip!

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After my initial announcement of the opening of Cork & Canvas, I want to update you on how amazing my experience was. This is def my favorite activity suggestion for a friend or family fun night. Tons of laughs, healthy competition and a masterpiece to bring home!

The night I went, it was a Hawaiian theme, and I got “laid” when I walked in. There were kids from 4-86. No worries. All skill levels are welcome.

After some food, drink and mingling, we settled at our canvasses and got down to the painting bit. Each person is provided with a canvas, pallette of acrylic paint colors, brushes and water.

There was a finished painting of what we would be creating on an easel next to the instructor up front. Our leader had her own blank canvas and walked us through the process step by step as she began her recreation, instructing what type of brush to use, which colors to mix, and where to place our lines and shapes on the canvas.

An assistant strolls the aisles to refill colors on your palette and bring you paper towels. For the more deatiled parts of the painting, the instructor walks arounds with the finished product to assist your strokes.

Glancing to my right and left, I was a bit intimidated. The woman to my right admitted she was a professonal painter and the man to my left seemed like he was one. It should be noted that you don’t have to follow instructions exactly if you don’t want to. Instead of the flower, one man chose to paint a dog instead and another chose to do a plate with a steak dinner. To each their own.

After finishing up, painters have the opportunity to see everyone’s creations while cleaning up and letting the canvases dry. Each painting was beautiful and unique and inspirational.

And then we all went on our merry ways with our masterpieces.

To the artistically inclined,
JCG

Weekday Fishing @ Reservoir #3

A swan is the only thing hanging out at the Jersey City Reservoir Number 3 off of Summit Avenue on Saturday. The gate was locked and garbage filled the entrance, even though a sign was posted stating that every Saturday until October the reservoir is open from 10am to 6pm. September 15, 2007. PAMELA SUCHY / The Jersey Journal

Not only is Reservoir #3 by Pershing Field in the Heights open on the weekends for fishing, kayaking or just wandering around, it is now open on weekdays from 3-8pm. Fishing equipment and instruction are provided, and all ages are welcome. Enter at Jefferson Avenue.
Throw me a line,
JCG

Zeel: Massage On Demand!

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I’m super productive, but when I stop running on the hamster wheel, I need some recovery time. Enter my new favorite app: Zeel. Zeel is a Massage On Demand® company that delivers top quality massages from licensed and vetted therapists to homes, hotels, workplaces, or events, even with same-day booking. And they are now serving Hudson County. Yay Jersey City!

Think of it like your wellness Uber. Simply go to the app or zeel.com. Once registered, it’s seamless. Just select date and time and type of massage and you’re all set! They offer Swedish [stress relief], deep tissue [workout recovery], prenatal [eases aches/discomfort] and couples massages [relaxing fun].

The Zeel masseuse will arrive at your house at said time and set up the table. (You provide sheets, a pillow case and a towel for sanitary purposes.)

My deep tissue massage with Al [Last name upon request] was to die for. He was extremely polite, had super-strong hands and paid special attention to my complicated kinks. He played background tunes of birds chirping which was pleasant—and he washed his hands right before the action (again, great on the sanitary aspect for –>this germaphobe–< who washes her hands circa 20 times a day). The only thing Al asked for was to warm his lotion in the microwave. No problem!

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All Zeel Massage therapists are licensed in their state of practice, and fully vetted by the Zeel team. They are screened, background-checked, and chosen for their excellence. Then they receive further training in reaching the highest Zeel standards of customer service and experience.

No corners are cut. Book for today; book for a month from now. Zeel operates 7 days a week and 365 days a year from 8am-10:30pm. Initially in NYC, they have branched out to Westchester and Long Island as well as Hudson, Bergen and Essex counties in NJ.

And if you’re fancy, they have a members program “Massage Zeelot,” a “frequent flyers,” which includes a Zeel Massage each month plus a professional-grade massage table.

USE CODE: GIA25 to get $25 off your first appt.!

Get your rub on,
JCG

6th Borough Market 6/14

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The 6th Borough Market happens every second and last Sunday of the month from 11am-5pm behind City Hall (Marin & Montgomery).

The outdoor market is mix of high quality crafts and goods in a festive, family-friendly atmosphere. While local vendors display handmade and vintage collectibles, local chefs whip up plenty of good eats.

This Sunday, 6/14, Mayor Fulop will be in attendance for a ribbon cutting ceremony that “celebrates the market’s commitment to connecting local micro-entrepreneurs and the Jersey City community.

Shop it up,
JCG

 

Surf City: Jersey City’s Beach

Surf CityJersey City always guarantees good summer outdoor drinking at Surf City. You have the sand, the water, the sky—and the breathtaking view of Manhattan and Liberty Island.

I always look forward to tucking my feet in the sand, sipping on one of their signature bucket cocktails and admiring the boats as I ascertain whether any yacht owners would be willing to take me for a ride on the Hudson.

Since SC comes from the owners of the awesome Zeppelin Hall Beer Garden, there are 25 craft beers on tap. I usually go with Purple Haze at the BG, but SC’s Captain Lawrence Sunblock quenched my thirst perfectly on the hot day I went two weeks ago.

If you’re not into beer, which I’m often not, go for one of the Monster buckets (split it with a friend as they are strong and $18 and Do Not Drive!) I like the Green Monster, but there are four varieties to choose from and each can be made with either vodka or tequila and you can mostly mix and match the other ingredients (inside tip).

Like the BG, SC has communal tables and you walk up to the counter to order your food (though I found out on slower days, the waiters and waitresses will come to you). The wait is typical for a place of this size on a busy night, sometimes 35-40 minutes.

I had the wings, cheeseburger and fries—all are up to par. The Key West Mix salad is my favorite thing so far. While I want to try all of their seafood options (mussels, clams, lobster & shrimp roll, mahi-mahi—you name it), the food is a bit pricey, especially when you compare it to Zeppelin Hall’s menu—which is the natural thought process for patrons who’ve migrated here to test the waters. And let’s consider the fact that you are serving yourself. This year a raw bar is serving fresh seafood daily including jumbo shrimp, clams on the half shell and crab claws, which is more wallet-friendly if you only want a litle taste of the sea.

Surf City can accomodate 3500 patrons per night: It has plenty of indoor and outdoor communal seating and boasts six bars and four dining decks plus the sandy beach with lounge chairs, and If it gets chilly when the sun sets, move near one of the fire pits—so nice.

Getting there is easy: The light rail (Hudson-Bergen) and PATH (Grove) are nearby, and there is free parking in their huge lot at 1 Liberty Harbor (Marin Blvd.)

All in all, it’s a great place to chill and absorb awesome views and the calm that comes with sand and water—with all of your best friends.

Some of my summer pics below:

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