The Red Wheelbarrow poets are all reading from their latest book, “The Red Wheelbarrow Volume #6,” this Saturday, November 16th at Tachair Bookshoppe (260 Newark Ave. by Monmouth Ave.) at 4pm. Literature lovers, you won’t want to miss this event.
The Red Wheelbarrow group meets for writing workshops in Rutherford, the hometown of William Carlos Williams (author of “The Red Wheelbarrow”), and periodically publish an anthology of their collective work. After the poetry reading, there will be a book signing and open-mic session.
“Tachair,” Jersey City’s only independent bookstore, derived its name from a Scottish-Gaelic word meaning “to meet.” The family-owned business uses their space to encourage education and community gatherings over conversation, creativity and the arts. They sell not only new and used books, as well as art from local artists. Tachair also has a cafe to promote the connectivity among people of all ages and walks of life that co-exist in our diverse city.
Friday is your last chance to view the “Jersey City Renaissance” art show hosted in Grassroots Community Space (54 Coles St.) by Ivan Retro, who will add a new coat to the Grassroots Community Murals.
Celebrate the entire series, including new works, while enjoying treats from Heart N’ Soul Catering.
Mr. Mustart’s will be featured in a bonus gallery collection, with the option to purchase.
Last week I had the chance to sit down with Mr. AbiLLity, and this is what transpired. Enjoy!
JCG: How did you get into this?
Mr. AbiLLity: As a kid, I loved to draw and still do. I got into painting a year and a half ago, trying different styles, and really got into spray painting. I like having a can instead of a brush. For the most part, I like to draw in pen, occasionally marker, and ya know, spray paint here and there (laughs).
JCG:You have a lot of work around here for only working a year and a half.
A: Whenever I go out, the plan is never to do one piece, it has to be four or five.
JCG: Why the name Mr. AbiLLity?
A:Before I started doing street art, I rhymed (and still do) and my rhyming name was AbiLLity. To me, the highest compliment is saying something is “Ill,” so I wanted to put that in my name. I was looking through a thesaurus thinking about how to tie “ill” with “skill.” Ability is a synonym for skill, and there you have it: Mr. AbILLity.
JCG:You have a lot of words and images. What would you say is your overall message? What are you trying to do?
A:If I had to sum it up, I would say it’s “Follow your dreams.” I think the number one problem in the whole world is that people don’t follow their passions. People do what they’re supposed to do: get a job, get a place. You have those things in mind that you want to do but never do. And then you have an emptiness and become bitter. It’s people like that that F the world up, because they’re not following their dreams, man. People following their dreams aren’t f-ing shit up.
Click below to read the rest of this involved interview and see more images…
There will be unique vendors (think crafty things like homemade beauty products, one-of-a-kind jewelry, stationery, all-natural candles, handmade baby products and leather goods), and live music 11am-4pm at Van Vorst Park. Fun for the whole family!
I had the privilege to meet the awesome duo behind the once-a-month pop-up shop Very Second-Hand Clothing and Goods. This shop isn’t just about finding unique things; it’s about creating a community and a collective lifestyle in creativity. It’s so Jersey City that most of Jersey City doesn’t know about it yet…until now.
Jean and Matthew hunt throughout the tri-state area for one-of-a-kind finds. It starts with clothing and extends to home goods (think: ashtrays, coasters, record players, glassware sets—things with a timeless feel).
In Matthew’s words, the two acquire “Anything that we like or think that other people would like. We bring it in, give it a shot, and if it’s not selling, then it becomes part of our decor going along with this whole apartment feel.”
JCG:Why Very Second-Hand Clothing and Goods?
Matthew: We were sitting around trying to come up with names, and a lot of cheesier ones came out, but I’m a big fan of the movie Heathers, and one of the things the character Veronica Sawyer says—as people are drinking or trying to tell her stories or whatever—is “How Very,” with no adjective after that; she just leaves it open to translation. I found it to be kind of the funniest, weirdly offensive way to describe something. It’s open to interpretation.
And the other thing about the name is, in my experience shopping in these vintage shops and whatnot, I didn’t want to use the word “vintage.” I like the idea of attaching my name to “second-hand” rather than “vintage.”
Jean: Our shop is not inaccessible. It’s not a place where you walk in and feel uncomfortable. Our whole vision is, “Let’s make a second-hand shop where people can come in and find that really cool piece—but not at a price point that will turn them away from shopping.” The highest priced item is $40—and that’s for a designer coat.
JCG: What do you like about Jersey City?
Matthew: My friend really got me into it. I was born and raised in Brooklyn. After finishing school, I couldn’t afford NYC. I moved to Union City and that started my domestication in Hudson County. I later moved here and quickly realized that Jersey City and its neighboring towns have everything New York City has to offer, and I haven’t been back to “the city” to socialize or hang out for years.
Jersey City has everything you need yet it’s a lot more close-knit. I like knowing everything about a town. The idea of being a small fish in a big pond is no longer attractive.
Jean: I think Jersey City is the best-kept secret of this state—which is quickly becoming not so much a secret anymore, in a good way and in a bad way. Recently, I’ve read a few articles comparing JC to Brooklyn, and everyone is moving here who is priced out of Brooklyn or Hoboken, and I get it.
It’s a great place, it’s really down to earth, it’s creative. I feel like there’s always something going on, and it’s something unconventional—never corporate, never cookie-cutter.
JCG: What’s your ultimate vision?
Matthew: We want it to be an everyday shop. It’s not just about coming in and trying to buy something, it’s about coming in and changing the record that’s playing, reading the newspaper and hanging out. And also, I have a huge network of friends who have been here for years, and everyone has a friend who’s an artist. I would love to curate art in the store.
Jean: Eventually, I want to start a tea shop/cafe as part of the retail space.
JCG:To encourage people to linger and build your collaborative community?
Jean: Exactly.
Where can you, JC residents, find this pop-up shop? The first Sunday of every month from 11am-8pm at one of my fave restaurants for celebratory drinks and eats,Boca Grande(564 Washington Blvd.) That means this Sunday, November 3rd. I’ll be there shopping, too.
If we’re lucky, Matthew and Jean will open up shop every other week for the holiday season. Eventually, with Jersey City’s support, VSHC will be a pretty rad brick and mortar space.
Visit Very Second-Hand Clothing onfacebookor check them out onyelp.
Exclusive sound clips from our fab conversation and more pics of merchandise will be available soon. Stay tuned.
