Happy Thanksgiving Jersey City!!!
Remember to reflect on all that you are thankful for while enjoying your celebration today.
Thankful to live in Jersey City,
JCG
Bringing people, places and events to life
It is that amazing time of year when families and friends get together for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving or — Thanksgathering!!!
Family & friends give us their love, support, and advice (whether we want it or not). At Thanksgiving—the ultimate family holiday—those folk invade our houses, our kitchens and our business.
What type of Thanksgiving will you have? Take the quiz to enter for a chance to win a $25 AMC gift card and/or a $500 Mastercard!!!
Resident Renee Lucas asked me about my favorite coffee shops, and I thought this required a post rather than a simple response.
While I have yet to try every spot (most independent shops are far from my house), I asked my trusted friend and 20-year resident of JC to help me create the list.
Here are is our collective answer:
Beechwood Cafe: Nothing, nothing beats their inviting ambiance on a cold winter day. Lots of bright light, very friendly servers if you sit on the restaurant side, which I recommend you do, and that very special feeling when your hot chocolate or latte arrives in an oversize mug with beautiful designs on top. I was here on one of the saddest days of my life last year, but I couldn’t help but smile.
Gia Gelato: This neighborhood spot has a variety of different coffees (as well as food and gelato). I’ve had regular over ice and a cafe mocha. Both were standard. While I haven’t tried the food, I hear it’s good, and the two gelatos I had here were lovely. GG also has “punch cards,” so your 10th coffee (or gelato) is free.
Mod Cup Coffee: While MC has a brick-and-mortar location on Palisade Ave., still has its wheels (follow them @modcupcoffee on twitter for locations), I think we all died over Travas’ British accent and his explanation of the importance of fresh coffee beans (imported from the source and brewed within 18 days) at the farmer’s market. Truly unique and very, very good.
Choc-O-Pain: The latte, pastries made on site and the quiche are winners according to the several who voted this French bakery and Cafe with various locations in Hudson County. The cozy atmosphere and nice art only add to the appeal. One commenter said: Their chocolate pastry “soothes the soul.”
Dulce de Leche: Whether a weekday or weekend, Dulce de Leche always has a good crowd. Beyond excellent coffee, a wide pastry selection, grab-and-go items and did we say delectable desserts??, the bakery’s lunch menu allows those who want to take advantage of wi-fi and ample seating to work through the hour sustained.
Lackawanna: The super bright ambiance and friendly baristas help you begin your morning and carry out your day. With ample seating and a beautiful backyard, many of Jersey City’s self-employed residence use thier as their office for the day.
The Cliff: The newest addition to the Heights, The Cliff offers a variety of drinks that are extremely customizable due to a plethora of dairy and non-dairy products and range of sweeteners. Also, for what they lack in indoor space, they have a cozy back deck – no other place in the area has a backyard.
Congress Station: The first coffee shop to open in the Heights in years (sparking others to open locations here), Congress offers a neat variety of coffee and espresso drinks. Good for on-the-go, as there are a few seats inside and out.
Ground Connection: Bringing back old school styles of brewing, GC expertly weighs and measures every single shot and cup to get a blend perfectly balanced for your personal preferences.
Sam A.M.: This place gets a lot of buzz, but since I don’t know anyone personally who’s been here, I’d just say enter at your own risk. Update: Read about my great visit here!
What are your suggestions, Jersey City? Let me know in the comments section.
Let’s get caffeinated,
JCG
Thank you to all of our Veterans for your bravery and courage, today and every day — and a special shout out to those in Jersey City.
Honor your Veterans and give your thanks by attending one of the many events in and around Jersey City this weekend.
God bless,
JCG
As a NY/NJ commuter and a lover of maps, I thought The Bullet Map a cool thing to mention to my fellow Jersey City peeps, NYC friends and those in upstate NY and Connecticut: A map that has every transit option, within and across state lines, in one place. The Bullet Map is available as a printed map and soon as a mobile map app.
Anthony Denaro, the man behind the project, began with combining all of NYC’s subway and bus routes in one big map, while adding outliers. For instance, The Bullet Map is the first complete subway map that also shows the PATH and HBLR.
But that’s not where it ends. Anthony has been working to include upstate New York and Connecticut. “The maps are already done and designed,” says Anthony, “but the really hard part is finishing the fundraising so that we can get these maps out there. And beyond that, continue to work on them to add more services in the tri- and upstate areas.”
Even cooler, the Bullet Map team has developed an app for what will be the ultimate comprehensive map (iOS and Android friendly) that will have a real time data feed (inter-state transit updates!)
The team is super close to their kickstarter campaign goal. Please check it out and help them out here! Or order a print here.
Some last words of wisdom from Anthony: “In NYC, the transit system is still paid for with a single fare and that one fare includes transfers between our local buses and the subway system. Most people don’t know about other free transfers between surface and subway, because they are rarely communicated.” So you may want to check out The Bullet Map not only to navigate or save time, but to save money from double-paying for your transit service.
Please help this campaign as these maps and app will be a time and life saver. Click here to donate.
To an efficient Point A to Point B,
JCG