Bringing people, places and events to life
The monthly comedy night at Brightside Tavern (141 Bright St.) is here. This Friday, December 6th, eight comics, including Andy Breckman from WFMU and Saturday Night Live, and Anton Shuford, a Jersey City comedian who’s performed across the world, will be rocking your ribs with laughter.
Tickets are $10 and the show starts at 8pm.
Laugh it out,
JCG
The 12th annual Newport Tree Lighting is tonight, Jersey City! The event kicks of at 4:30pm at 100 Town Square Place, and once the sun sets, Mayor Steven Fulop will do the countdown to the lighting of the 30-ft. tree. Local NJ media star and Hudson County resident, Marisa Brahney, will be emceeing the entire event.
The lighting will be followed by a synchronized light and music show, and an exclusive Ice Theater of New York performance to mark the opening of Newport Skates—Jersey City’s only outdoor, uncovered skating rink—for the season. After that, the rink (95 River Dr. South) is open to everyone for FREE skating until 8pm.
When you need a break from the action, warm up with hot cocoa, coffee and pastries from Skylark on the Hudson and meet Santa and his elves.
‘Tis the season,
JCG
Jersey City is the perfect town to shop small businesses. In fact, the reason I started this site was to support everything in this great city and encourage people to get involved with the community—which includes keeping it local. Be authentic in how you dress, decorate your home, care for your pet, where you have coffee or dine, etc. Jersey City is one-of-a-kind and should be celebrated!
As one commercial says, “The money spent here, stays here.”
The Jersey City Life put together a comprehensive list of businesses with descriptions of what they sell and links to their sites. Therefore, I won’t waste time creating another one. Check it out! Also, I found this nifty map.
There are deals to be taken advantage of everywhere, so there isn’t a better time to get your holiday shopping done.
See you around town,
JCG
Wishing you all a fabulous American holiday with your families and friends. One of my favorite traditions on this Thursday is a little thankful thing we do at our (30+ people) dinner. Before we sit down to eat, I hand a piece of paper and a pen to each person.
Everyone then writes down three things they are thankful for (no names), and someone collects the papers and places one under each plate. When we sit down, we each read the piece of paper under our plate and try to figure out who it is, which is usually not hard. Then everyone claps and there are hugs and kisses, and we move on to the next reading.
Naturally, this can take over 20 minutes with my large family, but it is so endearing and worth it.
Often, we are so caught up in our own lives and playing the catch-up game at the holidays with those we haven’t seen (or trying to cook or keep all of the dogs under control or feed the baby or watch the game), that we fail to verbalize to the people we are with how grateful we are for them.
Be happy for your family and friends—those who love you unconditionally. Their emotional support is not something you can buy.
Be thankful for the small things (that really are very big things, as Sandy reminded us)—like a roof, heat, hot water, electricity—that you are fortunate enough to have.
In addition to my awesome family and my closest friends, I’m thankful for all of you Jersey City-zens who’ve reached out and helped me connect our community, so that we can build our local businesses and support our great city. Since I started this site six months ago, I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many of you who keep this city alive and thriving. You’ve also brightened many of my days without knowing it; you crack me up. What a great place to live.
Take some time to give some thanks,
JCG