Friday, December 31, 2010

It ain't officially a New Year's Eve party until the Rolling Stones have sung

And as all our regular Jersey City Desk fans know, there is only one Rolling Stones song and only one version of that song that's gonna ring out 2010 right proper. Johnny's gonna go get his top hat and jacket on and go make Merry (insert joke here) with some friends and neighbors and is opening up the rooftop of the Jersey City Desk offices (see Lisa Stansfield video) on this balmy soon-to-be January evening. It's just a kiss away...

We'll catch you all on the right side of midnight for a nightcap. Happy New Year from the Jersey City Desk crew.

Happy New Year to all us good Jersey boys and girls

A New Year's Eve cautionary tale from 10,000 Maniacs

Too much drink turning people too much asshole. Of course we know all our readers are well behaved and upstanding citizens and would never ever do anything silly after drinking too much. Of course.

10,000 Maniacs with 'Don't Talk'.

We're getting so close to 2011 you can almost taste it

So why not taste it at the famed Arnold restaurant? It's like famous from the 50's and then maybe the 70's or something. Wasn't Maude a waitress there? Then in the 90's Weezer made Arnold's cool and stuff again.

Weezer as we roll on with 'Buddy Holly'.

They're expecting 1.5 million in Times Square tonight kids

So let's get a little uptown shall we? Here's Lisa Stansfield with the Cole Porter classic 'Down in the Depths'.

No Doubt makes a New Year's Eve appearance here at the Jersey City Desk

And why not, here at the JCD we appreciate senseless band member killings. No Doubt keeps the New Year's Eve party rolling with the Talk Talk cover 'It's My Life'.

More more more music on New Year's Eve

The music world lost soul singer Teena Marie about a week ago. We're going to honor her memory with her big hit 'Lovergirl'.

New Year's Eve fun rolls on with Beck

How about a kicky rumba inspired ditty to keep your New year's Eve morning coffee swaying along...

New Year's Eve kicks off with a little retro fun this morning

Duran Duran with the forever risque video 'Girls on Film'.

Late night open thread

We're gonna kick off the New Year's Eve music a tad early tonight. Here's Gorillaz from the 2010 Glastonbury Festival with 'Dare'. If you keep your eyes peeled you'll see former Clash members Mick Jones and Paul Simonon prowling the stage in their smart old RAF hats.


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Thursday, December 30, 2010

What was your favorite moment in 2010?

Was it a political thing? A personal triumph? Did your favorite team get power up and win the title? Do let us in on what made you happy this past year.

Late night open thread

Just another day away from the Jersey City Desk's New Year's Eve musical spectacular.

Y'all come back now, hear?

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Why don't you take a picture, it'll last longer

Today is the day Johnny had circled on his calendar a while ago and it is with a heavy heart today he gets to see Pee Wee Herman on Broadway. The heavy heart is the fact that Ms. Trixie Action Space Punk couldn't get into town because of this snowstorm we apparently had. Yes, Johnny and Trixie might well have had a part in the Pee Wee' Big Adventure movie as walk-ons. Yes, they MAY have. So it is with excitement and a touch of melancholy Johnny goes to see one of the funniest comics and sharpest wits ever to grace the silver screen, the teevee and the stage.

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Late night open thread

State trivia night.

Which U.S. state's official animal is the mule? Answer here.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

PATH service to Newark has returned within the hour

That is all...

Newark is an island this morning...

No PATH service further west than Journal Square currently this morning and NJ Transit trains are operating on a weekend schedule and are delayed.

Here is your Boxing Day 2010 Snowstorm weather related issues:

NJ Transit
*Hudson-Bergen Light Rail has been restored with trains operating every 20 minutes.

*Northeast Corridor train #7821, the 7:14am departure from New York Penn Station up to 20 min. delay.

*Rail service is operating on an enhanced weekend schedule Tuesday, December 28. To plan a trip, use 1/17/11 (MLK Day) as your travel date.

PATH

*Train service on the JSQ to 33rd street via HOB line is operating on a 15 minute schedule, train service on the JSQ to WTC line is operating on a 30 minute schedule

*PATH service remains suspended at Newark Penn Station. NJT trains are cross-honoring between Newark and New York.

*New Jersey Transit Passengers looking to make a connection in Newark with Path please stay on New Jersey Transit to New York or Hoboken. Path trains are not operating out of Newark.

*As of 05:00 AM on 12-28-10, Path train service is suspended from Newark to Journal Square in both directions. Path anticipates running a 10-minute schedule on all other lines starting around 06:00 AM.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Late night open thread

On the other hand we're in for a warming spell...

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

A post storm roundup of delays, closings and odd schedules

No doubt a lot of places are either closed or are certainly impacted by the up to 20 inches of snow from the blizzard yesterday and last night. Today the up to 55 mph winds will blow that mess around. Some travel and business updates:

*PATH service is only running between Grove Street and World Trade Center and between Grove Street and 33rd Street via Hoboken.

*NJ Transit bus service remains suspended with no estimate on when it will return, NJT officials said this morning.
Meanwhile, Hudson-Bergen Light Rail is suspended between Pavonia-Newport and Marin Boulevard stations, with limited service elsewhere.

*Newark Light Rail is operating on a modified schedule with trains every 20-30 minutes.

*River Line is suspended between Walter Rand Transportation Center and Waterfront Entertainment Center stations due to snow accumulation. Service is operating normally between Walter Rand Transportation Center and Trenton.

*Jersey City garbage pick-up schedules are being pushed back a day due to trucks not being able to get on the roads because of the blizzard last night, officials announced this morning.

*The city’s senior citizen stand-alone food congregant sites are also closed today due to the blizzard.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Sunday, December 26, 2010

So it begins...

What are your blizzard party plans for today? New Orleans has hurricane parties rife with tradition, what do you like to do on huge snow days?

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Saturday, December 25, 2010

We've got your White Christmas.....tomorrow **UPDATE**

OK, a day late and a snow dollar short, but tomorrow promises to be the first big snow of the season. Some areas of the Tri-State can expect upwards of 7 inches of powder by the time it's all over Monday morning. The snow is expected to begin late tomorrow morning and gradually intensify. Our friends at Wunderground have more:

Winter Storm Watch in effect from Sunday afternoon through Monday afternoon...

Sunday
Cloudy. Snow likely...mainly in the afternoon. Snow accumulation around an inch possible. Brisk with highs in the mid 30s. Northeast winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 60 percent.

Sunday Night
Snow likely. Additional heavy snow accumulation possible. Windy with lows in the mid 20s. North winds 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 35 mph. Chance of snow 70 percent.

**UPDATE** 4:22 pm

We've been upgraded to BLIZZARD conditions beginning tomorrow afternoon with 3-5" tomorrow afternoon and an additional 6-10" Sunday night into Monday morning.

Merry Christmas!

May your shi**ers not fill up this year...

Christmas Eve at Rockefeller Center

We wanna see Santa, a Jersey City Desk first - someone in the newsroom all night

We want to ask Santa why we didn't get that Apple TV we begged for last year for the newsroom. Sharing hilarious YouTube clips from any of our desks on the big screen in the bullpen would have been choice. Start making amends tonight Claus.

Friday, December 24, 2010

Some late morning Christmas Eve brilliance with David Sedaris

Pour yourself a nice rum egg nog and kick back and listen to the best Christmas story ever, Mr. David Sedaris with the holiday classic '6 to 8 Black Men'.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Santa didn't used to do anything.

Christmas Eve is hereby declared a Super Happy Fun Day

So get with it, chillax, think about the fun you're going to have all weekend and enjoy friends and family and food.

Late night open thread

Ah Christmas. It seems like only yesterday Johnny was enjoying the holiday as a boy in Belfast. He remembers the smells of fresh goodies baking in shops, holiday songs being sung in the pubs, horsedrawn carriage rides along the coast and on the holiest of days, getting up very early Christmas morning and heading into the Protestant sections of town with fresh nail and car bombs Santa brought the night before as well as kneecapping unlucky 'Orange Order' holiday revelers.

These Celtic gals playing one of Johnny's favorite traditional Christmas songs 'The Carol of the Bells' really takes him back to Northern Ireland and those magical boyhood memories.


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Devils sack John MacLean as head coach; Jacques Lemaire to return as interim bench boss

After a cool 9-22-2 start, including losses in the last two games to Atlanta and Washington, beatings the Devils took like redheaded step-children, John MacLean was let go as Devils coach this morning. The Jersey City Desk learned exclusively early today (but then quickly shared with the world cause that's how our sports desk rolls) that Jacques Lemaire will bring his exciting brand of trap hockey back to Newark as interim head coach. GM Lou Lamoriello made the call to let MacLean go.

Look, it wasn't John MacLean who signed Ilya Kovalchoke to a $100 million dollar contract because he had a big man-crush on him. No, that was GM Lou Lamoriello. So great of a decision it was that when Illy was a healthy scratch in games very early in the season the Devils had to play roster positions short. Johnny watched the Pittsburgh game at the Rock on a Monday afternoon horrified that the Devils had open roster spots. It's one thing to see a depleted bench if a couple guys get in a brawl or a couple get hurt but utter salary cap mismanagement to the point you're not playing with a full roster ain't the coach's fault. Yes we know Zajac got hurt but boo hoo, we're willing to bet Detroit survives with Pavel Datsyuk out for a month with a broken hand (It would have been better if he'd broken it on Corey Perry's ugly Duck face). This miserable season was over by mid November. That was not MacLean's fault. There seems to be a real schism somewhere deep inside the Devils dressing room. Something isn't right and it's pulling in opposite directions to the point the Devils look lost on the ice most nights. Maybe it's time for Marty Brodeur to kick some garbage cans over and make an impression on some of the loafers.

It's time Lou, it's time to open Crazy Lou's GM Swap-n-Save and collect a whole bunch of new talent and draft picks in trade for, as they say in the book biz, your remainders. Nobody wants to be here, you're behind the New York ISLANDERS in the standings and your fans deserve guys willing to lie in front of shots if that's how they need to win.

It's always darkest before the dawn, and Devils fans, it could be worse. The Rock could start sounding like this after Devils goals and then people would throw rocks and garbage at you.

Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season

Or maybe his love is just a rental kind of thing...

This'll get you in the holiday spirit; Man in Harlem walks suitcase down the street stuffed with a body

No, you read that right. NYPD police are looking for a man in Harlem who was nonchalantly pulling a suitcase down E. 114th St. and then for some reason, simply walked away from it. A passerby saw the suitcase and unzipped it ever so slightly until he saw a leg at which point he ran to Rao's Italian Restaurant to alert police.

The dead woman in the suitcase is Betty Williams, a Harlem resident.

Police, using street and store security videos said the man pulled the suitcase behind him for a while, stopped to take a breather and then keeps pulling the suitcase before simply walking away from it.

If you have any information on this grisly find please call the NYPD.

Jersey City police stop the world's shortest stolen car joyride

Fuho's own Eugene Ortiz saw the keys in a Jeep in Jersey City. He says he couldn't help himself. The lure of driving that Jeep was very powerful. So, Ortiz jumped into the Jeep at Franklin and Webster and got an entire 5 blocks until he was stopped. How could Jersey City's finest have stopped a stolen vehicle so quickly? Seriously, it hadn't been reported stolen, no time yet for that to happen. Well Mr. Ortiz wasn't exactly paying attention when he absconded with the Jeep, two JCPD officers WATCHED him lift it. That's right, they saw Ortiz take the vehicle.

Derrrrrrrrr

Ortiz told the police after being stopped that he saw the keys in the Jeep and felt the need to take it because he wanted to go for a drive.

Hope they serve egg nog in the Hudson County lockup.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Late night open thread

A Mad TV Christmas classic, the hilarious send up of Apocalypse Now entitled 'A Pack of Gifts Now'


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The crooks in Bayonne better be on the lookout, the Bayonne PD just bought 14 clunkers

No, it wasn't cash for clunkers but in a way it was. Bayonne is using a US Justice Department grant of $262,900 to buy 14 vehicle with plenty of miles that have seen better days for undercover work. Now, the Bayonne PD says they are not releasing the makes or models. Johnny KNOWS the makes and models but he'll keep quiet for now (The Bayonne PD can owe the Jersey City Desk one) unless these mystery clunkers are involved in some illegal cop activity or citizen beatings in which case that list gets published.

So crooks and nere-do-wells in Bayonne, keep your eyes peeled for those late model Fords and Toyotas and GM's and Nissans and Hondas, because some of those cars will have their eyes peeled on you.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Late night open thread

It's all about the little minions.


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Ho-Ho-Hoboken police warn residents and out-of-towners on GPS unit thefts

After a spate of car break-ins (and we just broke our own record for hyphens in a story) where GPS units and other electronic items were stolen Hoboken's finest are warning the public to simply take those things with you, tape them to your person, put them in a purse or manbag but do not leave them in your vehicles.

Fuho PD's Det. Sgt. Sam Williams had a handy tip for owners of GPS devices: wipe off the mark left by the suction cup that mounts the device to the windshield.

"Thieves will break in if they see this mark thinking there is a GPS inside the vehicle".

Got that? There'll be a quiz on Friday.

Something as simple as a bedbug sighting shows Jersey City School District at it's most confused

It's not a good time to be on the Jersey City Board of Education nor an administrator at school 23 in our fair city. A few days ago an outbreak of bedbugs was first noticed then acted upon by school 23 admins and the Board of Education. Now we're told by Board member Paula Christen they're simply not sure they have bedbugs at the school at all. Except when they said they did.

"We don't even know that it's bedbugs" said Christen.

VP of the Jersey City Education Association Bob Cecchine says they DO have a bedbug issue:

"The teachers said there is still a problem and they are concerned because they have to report to these schools every day and don't want to bring the bedbugs home..."

People, you are a SCHOOL district. You're about education. For heaven's sake, figure out using scientific methods if you have bedbugs or not and act accordingly. This "we have them, wait there could be liability or the administration might not want to admit it" act doesn't instill the most confidence in Jersey City schools.

Monday, December 20, 2010

Late night open thread

In honor of the lunar eclipse tonight it's cool space facts with Johnny:

The Crab Nebula was produced by a supernova explosion in 1054 A.D. The Chinese and Arab astronomers at the time noted that the explosion was so bright, that it was visible during the day, and lit up the night sky for months.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Something is going to happen today that hasn't happened since 1554

Now, most people who frequent this blog weren't alive in 1554. In fact maybe only readers Nancy R and Larry K were alive in 1554.

But what is it that will happen today that hasn't happened in so long? Glad you asked. Today as some may know is the first day of winter, aka the Winter Solstice. The shortest day of the year. There is ALSO a full lunar eclipse tonight and those two things haven't happened on the same day since 1554. We're also guessing that last time it happened that the general populace was a little conflicted about it all and no doubt virgins were sacrificed into volcanos.

So, stargazer, if you're out tonight simply look up. The Washington Post kindly helps out on the timing:

The eclipse will start about 2:41 a.m. Eastern and last for more than three hours. Thanks to the confluence with the winter solstice, the moon will appear at the highest peak in the sky, affording better views for all would-be astronomers.

You may wonder just what WAS happening in 1554, here are a couple nuggets of info:

*Heavy earthquake kills 830,000 in Shensi Province, China
*Kings Henri I and Philip II sign Treaty of Vaucelles
*Cardinal Reginald Pole becomes archbishop of Canterbury
*Portuguese Marranos who revert back to Judaism burned by order of Pope
*Pope Paul IV refuses to crown Ferdinand of Austria emperor
*King Philip II confers with Dutch financial experts
(the Pope was pretty much a dick back in those days eh?)

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Late night open thread

From the website 'Awkward Family Photos', Merry Christmas

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Stunning, simply stunning...

Feel free to vent Giants fans, Johnny feels your pain.

The Jersey City Desk Action Weather Team is predicting some snow Christmas Eve and Christmas

It may not be a lot of snow but the JCD Action Weather team (among others) is predicting a pretty good chance of some white stuff next weekend so people can take those new digital cameras out and the world will be all purtied up with fresh snow.

Like Martha Stewart says "It's a good thing".

Late night open thread

Final score tonight from over at the Yanitelli Center on the campus of St. Peter's (on the banks of Kennedy Boulevard):

St. Peter's 60
Farleigh Ridiculous 57

The Peacocks improve to 6-4 and are 2-0 in MAAC play.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Saturday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with KEITH RICHARDS!

First off, Happy Birthday Keef. Mr. Richards is celebrating number 67 today and we wish him many more. Johnny just got an autographed copy of his new book 'Life' he can't wait to tear into.

Now, the song Run Rudolph Run is Johnny's fav-o-rite Christmas song, it's the rockinest. But which version to choose, since it's been done by a lot of great artists, so we're gonna play three versions of this song tonight in our holiday spectacular. Kick it off Keith!

Saturday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with DAVE EDMUNDS!

It's hard choosing only three versions of this holiday standard. Do some research some time and see everyone with a cover of this Chuck Berry original. From Sheryl Crow to Hanson to actress Jane Krakowski to Motorhead. This version might just be Johny's fave.

Saturday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with BRIAN SETZER!

We wrap up this year's Christmas special with Brian Setzer and his orchestra doing what else, Run Rudolph Run.

We're gonna play Jets and Giants fans against each other here today

So, New Jersey/New York football fans, which game are you more eagerly looking forward to tomorrow? The Jets in Pittsburgh fighting for playoff positioning and maybe a home game in the AFC playoffs or the Giants at home vs the Eagles for basically the NFC east title. Which game means more to you?

Late night open thread

Where does the time go? We'll have a special edition of the music series tomorrow evening.

Til then...

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday, December 17, 2010

So, whadda ya want for Christmas?

Santa Action Space Punk will make sure the real Santa sees your requests...

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Late night open thread

By raising your legs slowly and lying on your back, you cannot sink into quicksand. Think about that next time you come across quicksand here in Cool City.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Oh, and the NYPD are like ninjas

You never see them until it's too late. You really have to wanna find one. Johnny found this one on 34th St this afternoon hiding behind a shrubbery. Crooks are at a big disadvantage with these Harry Potter-like NYPD cloaking strategies in place.

Feeling like Christmas around Herald Square

Get your affairs in order mortals -- The world ends on May 21, 2011

Or so says one Edwin Ramos of Bridgeton. He is SO CERTAIN that some kind of religious mumbo jumbo will happen (You know, God descends from heaven with angels blowing horns and he decides who is good and bad and he awards the Stanley Cup for eternity to the Red Wings then the human purge is on) and that the world WILL begin to end on May 21, 2011.

Ramos has taken out three billboards claiming the Bible GUARANTEES that May 21, 2011 is the ziggy for mankind. Ramos apparently didn't care for John Cusack's acting as he has crossed out 2012 (You remember the Mayan calendar claims 2012 as the end of the world and Cusack starred in a movie about it) on his billboards and set the date to May 21st, 2011.

Now some, like Johnny, would simply call this crazy religious silliness. However, we think that silliness can best be defined by Ramos' own words:

Ramos added that there is a five-month judgment period after May 21, during which the world will slowly be destroyed, and after which God will form a new heaven and earth, placing the earth’s last day at Oct. 21, when he thinks it will be completely obliterated. What is he planning if he wakes up on Oct. 22?

“If the Bible declares it, which is God declaring it, then there are no more questions. It is not even something that I factor in. I believe the world will end on that day.”

Uh huh, OK then, big party at Johnny's next October 22nd because Johnny's calendar says October 22 WILL happen.

This needed adding:

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Late night open thread

Henny Youngman never gets old:

A man calls a lawyer's office. The phone is answered, "Schwartz, Schwartz, Schwartz and Schwartz." The man says, "Let me talk to Mr. Schwartz." "I'm sorry, he's on vacation." "Then let me talk to Mr. Schwartz." "He's on a big case, not available for a week." "Then let me talk to Mr. Schwartz." "He's playing golf today." "Okay, then, let me talk to Mr. Schwartz." "Speaking."

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Angry Garden Staters this morning; Jon Bon Jovi passed over for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Johnny's been reading the commentary on many of the local as well as music boards this AM on the news that New Jersey's own Jon Bon Jovi has been passed over for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Those who did make the cut this year include New Orleans based piano guru Dr. John, alternative musician and songwriter Tom Waits, Alice Cooper Darlene Love and uh, Neil Diamond.

Those left outside looking in this year include New York City's own Beastie Boys, LL Cool J and Donna Summer.

Maybe Jon should buy some property in Michigan if he wants in as fully 10% of the acts inducted into the Rock Hall hail from Michigan. That's not speculation, that's fact. Alice Cooper? Yep, from Detroit.

Have your say on this people, and while you formulate your reply here is Alice Cooper with 'Under My Wheels'.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

More jitney's found to be 'ridin' dirty'...

For those of you keeping score at home, 60% of jitney busses failed their roadside surprise inspections this past weekend and were taken off the road. 15 of 26 vans were found to be a danger to the passengers riding them with such colorful issues as escape doors welded shut (didn't that one turn up a lot last time too?), faulty steering, bald tires and bad brakes.

Now you may think this doesn't really affect you, that is until one of these unsafe for city streets jitney busses mashes into your car because their brakes were substandard. Also, think of your neighbors who do ride jitney's to get around town, don't they deserve safe rides? Of course they do and we here at the Jersey City Desk applaud Edward DeFazio in the Hudson County Prosecutors office and the JCPD for working closely on this topic. It IS important and it DOES matter. If these companies aren't going to worry about you it's nice to know somebody will. People are forever complaining about the role of government, this is yet another case where it does matter and it does correct a safety problem facing not just drivers but riders as well.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Late night open thread

A man convicted of robbery in Texas worked out a deal to pay $9600 in damages rather than serve a prison sentence. For payment, he provided the court a check--a forged check. He got 10 years.

There you go.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Has anyone been following the JCPD steroids scandal?

It really is disgraceful that some people trusted with the safety of this city have become common drug users. ANY police officer found procuring or using these roid-rage inducing ILLEGAL drugs should be kicked off the payroll and their pension money (if any is involved) should be forfeit.

JCPD from time to time get rough with those carrying small amounts of marijuana. Who ever knew the guys with the badges would be bigger drug abusers than some local potheads. Now, not ALL JCPD officers chose this route, it should be pointed out. We would like to know how many stood up and said anything about it to their supervisors however. Those enabling this kind of behavior are almost as bad as those taking the steroids.

We citizens of Jersey City expect MORE from our police services. Chief Comey, please broom the steroids takers.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Late night open thread

"If you're at a Thanksgiving dinner, but you don't like the stuffing or the cranberry sauce or anything else, just pretend like you're eating it, but instead, put it all in your lap and form it into a big mushy ball. Then, later, when you're out back having cigars with the boys, let out a big fake cough and throw the ball to the ground. Then say, "Boy, these are good cigars!""

--Jack Handy, Deep Thoughts

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Well the Giants game this weekend is still in doubt **UPDATE**

Originally postponed until Monday night to allow for travel considerations into blizzard stricken Minneapolis, the Giants game wheres and whens are still up in the air after the collapse of the Metrodome roof from heavy snowfall. Will the Giants and Vikings move their game outdoors to the University of Minnesota stadium? It'd seem that would be the solution that offers the quickest fix since travel at the airport is still snarled. Of course waiting a day and coming back to the Meadowlands would have to be under consideration. You can follow ESPN here and get updates on this story.

UPDATE -- The game will be played tomorrow night at Detroit's Ford Field

Late night open thread

Hockey Inc. takes no prisoners. The Devils learned this creed up close and personal like at The Rock tonight. The Red Wings scored two goals inside of two minutes to begin the game and were never really headed after that. Martin Brodeur was absolutely brutal on the second and questionable on the first. If your hall of fame netminder can't hold the fort while the team somehow tries to apply the tourniquet it may be time to call it a season and free up some cap space and acquire picks and young talent at the trading deadline. That's IF the many many Devils with no trade clauses (and we don't mean Santa), will accept a trade. The way Mark Fayne and Henrik Tallinder played Henrik Zetterberg as he fed Pavel Datsyuk on Detroit's 4th goal would indicate they both had a big bowl of Inept Defensive-O's for breakfast.

Danny Cleary has really stepped up for the Red Wings this season. He scored the Wings second goal, his 11th of this season. He's helping take some pressure off of a slow start by Johan Franzen. Chris Osgood was solid in net for Detroit, making key timely saves in the first period his counterpart was unable to make. The win was number 399 for Osgood.

It becomes more apparent with each passing game that Datsyuk and Zetterberg are the best tandem in the NHL. They play in every situation, they're not only Detroit's best offensive weapons but they're the top defensive forwards as well. Datsyuk has multiple Selke trophies as best defensive forward, leads the NHL in steals by an almost superhuman margin while Zetterberg has also been nominated for the Selke and got himself a shiny Conn Smythe trophy in 2008 for checking Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin into the ice. In game 4 of the 2008 Final Devils announcer Doc Emerick said Zetterberg had a 3 on 5 shift for the ages while Detroit killed a two man disadvantage.

Speaking of Doc Emerick, Johnny had the extreme privilege of meeting Mr. Emerick in between the second and third periods. Johnny was on the aisle in section 18 and Doc was a couple rows down having a discussion with what looked to be friends. As he walked by Johnny gave the glad hand to Doc and congratulated him on his well deserved induction into the hockey hall of fame last year. He looked at the Red Wings sweater adorning Johnny and said "Your team is playing VERY well tonight". "So far so good," was Johnny's reply, "we had an interesting third period last night vs. Montreal so anything is possible". Doc cracked a knowing smile at the "so far so good" comment. "So far happens A LOT with them".

How true Mr. Emerick, how true.

Now the pictures

Time for Jersey City, After Dark


Saturday, December 11, 2010

It's hockey night in Newark!

Yes puck devotees, Hockey Inc. rolls into the Prudential Center tonight for a 7 pm tilt with the Devils. No doubt the Devils are still stinging after referee Brad Watson gave New Jersey a screw job last night and disallowed an obviously good goal. The Red Wings played a very spirited affair with Original Six brethren Montreal last night at Joe Louis Arena coming out on top 4-2. So both teams played last night so being tired won't be an excuse for anyone. The Red Wings will send Chris Osgood out after his 399th career win tonight while hall of famer Martin Brodeur will be between the pipes for the Devils.

No word on if Wings coach Mike Babcock will split up the Euro Twins, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. Datsyuk scored the winner last night against the Habs. The Devils will need some push physically and will certainly need to win corner battles against Detroit's muckers like Danny Cleary, Tomas Holmstrom and big Todd Bertuzzi. Another key for the Devils is how they do on faceoffs tonight. A team simply can't lose faceoffs and start chasing the Wings puck possession game.

All in all it should be a riot tonight at The Rock. Johnny will be there and you should be too.

Late night open thread

It ain't Christmas til something gets broken...


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE TEMPTATIONS!

My my my, so late tonight. Yes kids, Johnny was out carousing. Yes, carousing.

Since the Detroit Red Wings invade Newark Saturday night, Johnny will invade your ears with that magnificent Motown sound tonight. Here are The Temptations with 'Baby I Need Your Loving'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with WARREN ZEVON!

One of the wittiest and biting songwriters of his age. Warren Zevon with 'Lawyers, Guns, and Money'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with BERLIN!

Riding 'The Metro' with Terri Nunn? Yes please.

Friday, December 10, 2010

One of those great old NYC stories replete with cool history

Elaine Kaufman passed away last week. You know her as the owner of the Upper East Side iconic restaurant that bears her name, Elaine's. Famous in song and story, Elaine's was the subject of a great historical look at it's more colorful days in the New York Times. Start your day off right with their reporting on this NYC star studded outpost.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Late night open thread

Only two sleeps until the Red Wings roll into town for a Saturday night tilt with El Diablos out at the Rock. It's a Festivus miracle!

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Lesson here? Don't be a buttlord

Or a dick or a jerk or whatever word works for you.

Johnny's not sure how the Jersey City police managed to turn the sympathy vote over to Mayor Healy but in messing with his fundraiser the other night by taking car keys of donors that showed up and hiding them, that's exactly what happened. Why would some members of the police who were outside protesting layoffs while Healy held a fundraiser inside Puccini's restaurant screw with people's keys? Police Chief Tom Comey wasn't saying but he did mention that the officers were going to be suspended.

Comey said the officers "were remorseful and took full responsibility for their actions. Additionally, the officers have apologized for their juvenile behavior and any embarrassment they have caused the department and the city". Fair enough, we're satisfied with the punishment fitting the "crime" here but why? Why make Healy a sympathetic if not tragic figure?

One more thing, a message for the JCPD. You know those surveillance cameras that you use from both places public and private to track down crime? Yeah, that's EXACTLY how your boys got caught taking keys. You'd think the cops would know about such things.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Late night open thread

Johnny loves the classics


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

No, Nidia, that's NOT what the court said...

Sometimes it's easy to see why Nidia Lopez/Boehringer is such a useful tool for Mayor Healy, she sees things like him, convoluted in fact and constantly vindicating themselves. Lopez as you know by now has an issue with living in Florida so as to avoid paying New Jersey taxes and she was called on this fact by the candidate she defeated in 2009, Norrice Raymaker. Raymaker attached herself to a lawsuit contesting Lopez's residency.

Two state Appellate Division judges dismissed the lawsuit yesterday on a technicality, namely that Raymaker enjoined the lawsuit too late in the process so the suit itself was tossed. Now the court never ruled on ANYTHING pertaining to Lopez's permanent residence. That is unless you ask anyone not named Nidia Lopez;

“I am glad that the courts reaffirmed the truth that I live in Jersey City, am a resident of the city..."

Um, Nidia, again, NO they didn't. YOU and you alone inserted that definition of the ruling.

The Jersey City Desk continues to believe that Lopez does not hold her Ward C seat legally but it appears on a technicality at least she can go back to her job as one of Mayor Healy's bestest lap dogs.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Late night open thread

A Jersey City Desk first, a remote tuck in from section 341 at MSG.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Hoops tonight at Madison Square Garden

That's right college basketball fans, the Jimmy V Classic, a tournament to raise money to fight cancer is happening tonight at venerable Madison Square Garden. The first game tips at 7 pm and features Memphis vs. Kansas and the 9 pm showdown has Syracuse and Michigan State. Of course since MSU is involved Johnny will be kicking around the Garden tonight to remind both Kansas and Syracuse fans that when it comes to college hoops, they take a backseat to the juggernaut from East Lansing.

Tickets still available so come on over to help a great cause and watch some big-time college basketball.

Sparty On Wayne!

Jersey City is a lot of things but now it's the new home to ambulance-jacking?

It seems Cateret's Rodolfo Velez wanted to get ahead of the car-theft curve recently and wanted to also start a new trend when he attacked two EMT's while riding between hospitals in an ambulance.

Velez was being transported between a hospital and the Jersey City Medical Center when he pulled out a stick that had an ice pick attached somehow and began attacking the EMT in the back of the vehicle. The EMT's partner was having none of this so he got out to assist his partner. Velez then broke through into the cab of the ambulance and took off. Both EMT's found themselves stranded at the corner of Palisade Avenue and Congress Street.

The ambulance was found some 10 blocks away, in the lot of a public laundry at Kennedy Boulevard and South Street, crashed into a parked car and leaning against a fence.

Velez, when located, will be charged with carjacking, weapons possession and aggravated assault on an emergency first-aider.

Monday, December 6, 2010

Late night open thread

If you're a Jets fan, you can go to bed now.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The first flakes of the year

Ah those first few snowflakes of the year are currently falling here in Wall Street west. We'd have hoped for something bigger and prettier for the first snow but what can ya do? Flurries it is.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Late night open thread

If by some chance you're walking to the train or a bus past open windows in the 5 o'clock hour tomorrow morning and hear a guy really enjoying his cup of good morning America that'll be Johnny sipping a Jamaican high mountain brew he got from McNulty's today. That first cup is the best cup.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Free Day!

Johnny's got business in the Big Apple this morning and then there's football to be watched after that. Certainly no time to be cooped up in the office on a sunny Sunday.

Go have some fun and we'll see you back here tonight...

Late night open thread

Scoreboard Saturday night one more time

Auburn 56
South Carolina 17
One day this entire season will be voided for Auburn

Oregon 37
Oregon State 20
Fear the Beaver

West Virginia 35
Rutgers 14
Mercifully it ends for Rutgers

Delaware 42
Lehigh 20
Lehigh's great run comes to an end. Quite a season for the Patriot League champs

Wofford 17
Jacksonville State 14
Wofford is the new Faber

Connecticut 19
South Florida 16
Connecticut is off to a BCS bowl game with an 8-4 record. Therein lies some of the sleazery of the BCS, the big conferences awarded themselves seats at the table regardless of their possible checkered records

USC 28
UCLA 14
Speaking of sleazery it's USC everyone. In England games between crosstown soccer rivals are called derbys. Consider this the Los Angeles Derby

Oklahoma 23
Nebraska 20
It's a shame these teams won't play for at least ten years and never as conference titans. This rivalry used to be what was right about college football

This week's Jersey City Desk Game of the Week
Division III playoff game
Bethel (MN) 12
St. Thomas (MN) 7
One can only imagine the sea of joyous Bethel students flooding into the streets under the stoplight there

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Rutgers football game day!

Mercifully the Rutgers football season will come to a sad conclusion today in Morgantown WV against the Mountaineers and their couch burning fans. The Scarlet Knights have never won in Morgantown and if that tradition holds today the Knights will fall to 4-8 overall and 1-6 in the Big East.

This season has been forgettable oddly for the memories it holds. A five game losing streak in conference play. The horrible injury to Eric LeGrand that left him paralyzed, a quarterback shuffle and a troubling lack of wins in Piscataway.

But play they will today and with nothing to lose we'll see one of two Rutgers teams today. One that utterly folds when punched in the nose after a turnover or a long touchdown against or a team with fire in their eyes and one willing and ready to leave it all on the field knowing contact drills won't be starting again for some time. Sadly we've seen nothing in the Rutgers team this season that indicates they'll play with fire in their eyes.

Let's get this season over one way or another with no serious injuries but the entire Rutgers team had better remember how miserable they have been in November and December this year and use that as a motivational tool this off-season.

Our prediction?

West Virginia 30
Rutgers 10

Late night open thread

Late night thoughts with Happy Bunny

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday, December 3, 2010

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with LINK WRAY AND HIS RAY MEN!

OK movie buffs, what movie was this little trembler prominent in? The magnificent Link Wray and his Ray Men kick it off tonight with the timeless 'Rumble'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with TANGERINE DREAM!

Ok, we're all adults here capice? We can handle a little risque imagery if it's about the song/subject matter. One of the great instrumentals ever made in Johnny's opinion is the Tangerine Dream song 'Love on a Real Train' from the movie Risky Business. Johnny is willing to bet if you took a poll of men 30-50 they'd pick Rebecca DeMornay as the hottest female movie character ever.

The song is almost flawless in what and how it conveys the emotion of the scene. One of THE sexiest scenes in cinema Love on a Real Train by Tangerine Dream.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with CARLY SIMON!

Wrapping up the music series tonight, er afternoon, with the timeless classic voice of Carly Simon. From all the way back in 1972 when dinosaurs still roamed the earth and picked off kids on their way to the bus stop, here's Carly Simon with 'Anticipation'.

JC Fridays kicking off NOW

Get out there people, show our fair city some love. Grab dinner. Go see an event near you, ANY event. Show up, buy a Christmas present, the point is to go out and enjoy YOUR city. It's the only one you're getting right now and dedicated creative people are calling us outside.

It's Friday, go have fun!

Now imagine Johnny doing his best impression of Michael Westen from the show Burn Notice; "Photoshop is a great way to zazz up and cover for a really bad cell phone photo, you can almost make it look clever. You won't win any awards but people won't shoot at you either".

Venus sure looks great this morning

Hovering over the New York City skyline. Go out and look to the east and in a few you might just catch a sliver of the moon.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Late night open thread

Random-found-online-quote-that-has-nothing-to-do-with-nothing night:

"I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather...Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car."

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

So you find yourself videotaping a fight at school, the school wants YOU busted

According to the good people across the Hudson at Gothamist (via FOX 5), some high schoolers got into a fight at Half Hollow Hills High School East outside Long Island. It seems the school not only wants to bust the kids IN the fight but the one who filmed and those who watched. Talk about a nanny state. Dear school system, no matter how violent a fistfight gets it's ridiculous to expect high schoolers to break it up lest they get dragged into it and let's face facts, you have NO CASE if it weren't for the kid who filmed it to begin with. Your entire 'case' would go wanting. So instead of going after those who had ZERO to do with the fight, grow up and deal with the actual fighters.

(video contains some rough high school fightin' language)

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Late night open thread

Odd fact night:

Due to gravitational effects, you weigh slightly less when the moon is directly over head.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The Jersey City Desk would like to welcome The Powerhouse Lounge to town

Taking over the old Rascals location on Marin Blvd. between First St. and Bay St., the new Powerhouse Lounge is open to the public. The bar hopes to be a neighborhood friendly kind of place. How best to do that? Well besides the grub and libations in this cozy neighborhood setting, the Powerhouse Lounge is going to offer patrons rides both to and from the Lounge. Now THAT is forward thinking kids. A ride to and from the bar from the downtown area? That's crescent fresh.

The dress code at the Powerhouse Lounge is listed at 'neat' which will probably be a good fit for the professional crowd on their way to and from the Grove St. PATH station and some of those Powerhouse Arts District eclectic peeps the Jersey City Desk staffers love to hang out with when socializing downtown.

The menu can be found HERE so take a look and no doubt Johnny will see you in there at some point. Just keep your hands and feet away from his mouth.

Did anybody realize there was an earthquake yesterday?

Yes, in fact the New Jersey and New York shorelines were rattled yesterday as a 3.9 quake, the largest out this way in 18 years. At 10:45 am yesterday there was an earthquake located in the Atlantic Ocean about 82 miles south-southeast of Westhampton, NY. The USGS said there were no injuries and no damage and no tsunami's created by the trembler.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Late night open thread

Remember where you put those umbrellas, you'll sure need them tomorrow...

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Looking for some good food around the Journal Square area? Try Culinary Cafe

A new breakfast and lunch option has opened up to those in and around Journal Square that uses not only local fresh produce, but local aspiring chefs as well. Rick Low of the Culinary Cafe at the Culinary Conference Center has a new spot open only on Tuesdays and only for breakfast and lunch but it offers more than just menu fare, it offers young chefs the ability to set a menu, use locally grown and fresh produce and run a restaurant if only for a day.

Said Low on his students:

"They wrote bios. They designed their own menu. I let them order their own food, project food cost. We got a lot of response from the community and the students really liked it."

So why not support local food and local talent? Besides, doesn't rosemary beef stew, orange glazed Cornish game hen, cinnamon roasted baby pumpkin and seasonal vegetables sound better than White Castles?

Monday, November 29, 2010

Late night open thread

A little Monday night Motown before bed. The legendary Mary Wells with 'You Beat Me to the Punch'.


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Monday open thread

We haven't had many of these lately but sometimes ya gotta deal with other things. Talk about whatever floats your boat.

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Late night open thread

Hey this one almost snuck by Johnny and we want to make sure everyone hears, the pride of Jersey City, St. Peter's College upset mighty Alabama last Tuesday 50-49 in the Paradise Jam in the US Virgin Islands. Jeron Belin hit a three point shot with ten seconds left to lift the Peacocks.

Fight on St. Peter's!

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

It's getting to be ice on the road time Jersey City

A very bad accident at Tonnelle at Manhattan over in the Heights quite possibly due to icing on the road should serve as a reminder that it's black ice season once again. Granted, the ice on the road looks like it may not have been done by mother nature but set in motion by a leak from a nearby building but ice is ice is ice. Take some extra time in the mornings and make sure you're safe on the bridges around town as well as surface streets.

Late night open thread

Saturday night scoreboard edition:

Michigan State 28
Penn State 22
Sparty gets a share of the Big Ten title, the first for MSU since 1990

Ohio State 37
Michigan 7
RichRod's days are numbered according to the Detroit media.

Connecticut 38
Cincinnati 17
UConn needs to win next weekend at S. Florida and they'll be BCS bound

Boston College 16
Syracuse 7
Because the world needs middling bowl teams

Notre Dame 20
USC 16
These teams play for a shillelagh. Does it seem odd that USC would play for a shillelagh?

Georgia Southern 41
S. Carolina St. 16
Quite an upset, betcha didn't know it.

Middle Tennessee 38
Florida Atlantic 14
Because the schedule demanded it

Western Illinois 17
Coastal Carolina 10
Western Illinois will no doubt get bid to the BCS Fiesta Bowl.

Tonight's Jersey City Desk Game of the Week®
Lehigh 14
Northern Iowa 7
Lehigh gets power up and wins a HUGE Division I-AA playoff game in Iowa today. It's a Lehigh world, we just live in it.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Atheist billboard next to Lincoln Tunnel sure to turn some heads

First off, Johnny is not religious in the least. He's NOT a believer in ANYBODY'S God. Now that that is out of the way, no doubt this billboard sponsored by Atheists locally will get people talking. The billboard itself has the following message:

"You KNOW it's a myth. This season, celebrate reason," a silhouetted background shows the three wise men walking towards a manger.

Now no doubt the Christian crowd will be loud over this affront to their very lives but Johnny says GOOD. No group in America should feel somehow threatened because a differing view appears on a billboard somewhere. The 'War on Christmas' crowd will no doubt be attacking this sign as will the usual suspects, not quite rooted enough in their own religion to just accept the fact others may have opposing viewpoints from their own.

It's our belief that freedom of religion for all is also freedom FROM religion for all as well.

Late night open thread

Think warm thoughts, lake effect snow around the Great Lakes tonight.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with ELO!

That's right, some Electric Light Orchestra to kick off AM Gold night here on the Jersey City Desk music series. Those wonderful songs that used to drift out of whatever AM radio device one may own, from box to transistor to those cleverly made to look like anything from a banana to a softball. Johnny was lucky when it came to AM Gold stations, had the famed AM 800 The Big 8, CKLW out of Windsor Ontario and all those lower watt Detroit stations playing that sweet soul, R&B and Motown along with Top 40.

Here's ELO to kick off our look back at AM radio with 'Sweet Talking Woman'.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with SILVER CONVENTION!

Who doesn't love a good AM Gold night, right kids? The problem with AM Gold nights is that our younger audience has no idea when AM radio was the delivery system for the popular music of the day. FM was album cuts with the occasional hits sure, but in the mid-70's FM radio was the experimental frequency on the dial. Plus, and this dates Johnny terribly, Johnny's mom's 1973 Mercury Comet only had AM radio.

From 1975 here is the band Silver Convention with their pre-disco craze disco hit 'Fly Robin Fly.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with ACE!

AM Gold night wraps up with the band Ace and their huge hit from 1974 'How Long'.

The lead singer and also songwriter of this song is Paul Carrack who also had a solo career and played with Roxy Music and Nick Lowe. Ace's original name was Ace Flash and the Dynamos which simply became Ace.

Just because you're a bankrobber is no reason to be rude

When you get done robbing the bank you say "Happy Thanksgiving" to the teller. Then you walk, you don't run from the scene. How about helping out a local eatery on your way out of the Newport Mall? That's what Jersey City's Patrick O'Boyle allegedly did earlier this week after robbing the JP Morgan Chase Bank on Washington Blvd. He's also accused of robbing the Capital One Bank at almost the same place November 10th. Also, the NYPD would like to have a long chat with Mr. O'Boyle who is wanted for two robberies across the Hudson River. The Jersey Journal picks it up here:

On Tuesday, a teller at JP Morgan Chase hit the alarm button when O'Boyle walked in because she recognized him from a photograph taken during the Capital One Bank robbery, reports said.

He walked up to her and said, "Are you ready for Thanksgiving? This is a stick-up. Make it quick," and made a gesture that suggested he had a weapon, reports said. O'Boyle said "Happy Thanksgiving" to the teller as he walked out carrying almost $6,000, reports said.


Onlookers saw O'Boyle jump on the Light Rail and try to make his escape which was short lived after police stopped the train and pulled O'Boyle off in handcuffs.

Late night open thread

2:30 am and somewhere people are in line in this damp cold to save money on shiny trinkets. Independence from Madison Avenue's marketing machine and the advertising world sold separately.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Jersey City Desk Action Weather team parade forecast

The Jersey City Desk's Action Weather Team is ready to hip you, the parade going public, to tomorrow's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Thanksgiving will dawn cool and cloudy, if it were a bit wetter there may have been flurries for the early morning commute to those years in the making watching spots. Instead low to mid 30's to start the morning and it most likely won't get out of the 30's by the time the parade ends. Light winds in the morning.

For those going over to the Meadowlands for tomorrow night's special Thanksgiving Jets and Cincinnati Bungles ballgame, plan for rain. Rain and 40, just perfect after a big heavy meal, sitting in cold rain. What the heck has been up with Jupiter, Roman God of weather's hatred of the Jets this season?

Here's hoping your holiday travels come off without a hitch

Or you at least meet some interesting people on your Thanksgiving journey.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Late night open thread

Today Johnny filed the legal paperwork for a trademark on the food/phrase vulturducken®. That's chicken stuffed and wrapped by some stuffed and wrapped duck which is wrapped by stuffed turkey which in turn is wrapped by stuffed vulture meat.

Mmmmmmm, that's good vulture.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The reports that North Korea has begun shelling Weehawken are false

Johnny went up on the roof of the Jersey City Desk offices and didn't see any smoke or no nothing so the reports on DeathtoWeehawken.com are FALSE.

Carry on.

So Jersey City, are you Black Friday shoppers?

Or do you tend to avoid the human seas that are 5 am door buster specials? Johnny saw an ad last night for a store (That shall be nameless) that is opening at 3 am. Really? 3 am? Hopefully they'll get some still-drunk doorbusters themselves.

Nobody ever seems to worry about our fellow citizens forced to get up at that hour. Johnny would also never patronize a store or chain that makes their employees work on Thanksgiving proper.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Late night open thread



Time for Jersey City, After Dark

So, people, real cranberries or those from a can?

Let's get this fight started early this year. Also, feel free to tell us what dishes make YOUR family's Thanksgiving great.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Late night open thread

And the Jersey City Desk is back on the air. A wonderful weekend in Boston for the owner and a weekend of debauchery for the staff. Who says you can't start Turkey Week festivities early?

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Late night open thread

Well boppers, Johnny's out of town again this weekend for a long expected trip to Boston. Do enjoy yourselves until we meet up here again in a few days. We'll have fun next week with Thanksgiving and all the trimmings.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Another reason to hate teenagers

Oh those wacky teenagers. A group of teens shut down traffic in the Lincoln Tunnel yesterday, of course at rush hour, roughly 5:15 by running into the tunnel towards New York. Authorities won't say if they had made any arrests or if the teens were somehow corralled. Traffic resumed as normal around 6 pm.

Citizens, the legal bag limit on teens you can hit with your car and still not get enough points to lose your drivers license has been raised to THREE (You CAN hit four but you'd better have a really good reason for the judge).

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Late night open thread

After the third botched rescue attempt, Johnny would have killed Gilligan. Just sayin'.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

High wind advisory today campers

Starting at 10 am and running through 1 am tomorrow morning with gust over 50 mph. That should be a lot of fun for people with umbrellas. If you can take some amusing video or images of someone in a death fight with their umbrella today do pass that along and we'll run it.

Come on Jersey City, let's roll like they do in Florida!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Late night open thread

Here with the late breaking news is Name Here who tonight has a report from Name Here...

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Sometimes you simply see something cool and VERY important

So we go from shopping locally in Jersey City this week to the amazing timeline put together by Japanese artist Isao Hashimoto and his time-lapse map of the 2053 nuclear explosions which have taken place between 1945 and 1998 around the globe. Truly amazing. Good stuff campers, feel free to pass this along. Again, we don't normally stray outside of the local and state scene but this one, well, it speaks for itself.

Jersey City residents, make SURE you're part of Make My City

It's an idea of local businesses, The Jersey City Independent, and Ward F councilman Steve Fulop where Jersey City residents are encouraged to spend thier money HERE in Jersey City until November 21st. Just think of the great shops in town here and you could help boost their bottom line. Eat locally, shop locally and make sure your friends and neighbors are getting a cut of what 'd normally be giving to out-of-towners and large corporations. In honor of you shopping locally some local businesses have some awesome discounts this week. Check out the whole shooting match on Make My City here.

We'll see you shopping around town this week Jersey City...

Monday, November 15, 2010

Late night open thread

State trivia night:

This state gave us the reuben sammich and that tasty meat treat SPAM. Can you name this culinary wonderland? Answer here.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Busking outside the Grove Street PATH Station this morning

Nothing like the mellow sound of some cool jazz blowing from a saxophone.

If it wasn't for bad luck Hoboken would have no luck at all

Hey Bunky, if some of your Hoboken office co-workers come in smelling a little worse than normal today, cut 'em some slack. For the third time in a week FuHo has suffered a crippling water main break, this one at the corner of 9th and Jefferson. Last week saw two other water main breaks overnight in Hoboken; Last Wednesday at 7th Street between Clinton and Grand, and Friday's break occurred near Washington and Twelfth.

So Hoboken voters, when Mayor Zimmer and or the City Council says they need some emergency do-re-mi cash for upkeep and infrastructure, they ain't whistling Dixie. No, they need new waterpipes and funds to fix, *ahem* giant sinkholes along Sinatra Drive.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Late night open thread

Is that a skink in your pants or are you just happy to see Johnny?

Man Caught At Airport With 44 Lizards In His Pants

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A German reptile collector has been jailed for 14 weeks and must pay a 5,000 New Zealand dollar ($3,540) fine for plundering New Zealand's wild gecko and skink populations, a judge has ruled.

Hans Kurt Kubus, 58, is to be deported to Germany as soon as he is released from prison, Judge Colin Doherty ordered Tuesday.

Kubus was caught by wildlife officials at Christchurch International Airport on South Island in December, about to board an overseas flight with 44 geckos and skinks in a hand-sewn package concealed in his underwear.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Jets and Giants game day!

Well as is usual round these here parts, one team is at home (The Giants) and one team is out of town (The Jets). The Jets get a trip to the Land of Cleve where they will take on Johnny's Browns at 1 pm on the shores of Lake Erie. The suddenly hard charging Brownies are led by running back Peyton Hillis whom Cleveland snaked away from Denver in the Brady Quinn trade. Hillis is a throwback runner who runs big and strong and mostly downhill and lately for over 100 yards. If the Jets can corral Hillis, don't expect miracles from rookie (albeit well playing rookie) Colt McCoy. Even though Johnny's a Browns fan, he thinks the Jets will get power up and win today.

The Giants are at home at 4:15 vs the fast fading DallASS Cowboys. The 'Boys fired head coach Wade 'Butt-Dumpling' Phillips earlier this week and look to be a mess while quietly the Giants are emerging as the team to beat in the NFC. Pretty soon there won't be room in East Rutherford for BOTH teams. We like the Giants to add to the Cowboys misery this afternoon and evening by scoring many many points.

Late night open thread

In lieu of our full scoreboard show this evening we'd like to point out that Lehigh has clinched the Patriot League title for 2010 and next week may be playing for a chance at a home playoff game. Go Mountain Hawks!

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Rutgers football game day!

Well it comes down to this, today is Piscataway, around 3:30 we're going to see just where the Scarlet Knight's season is headed. (4-4, 1-2 Big East) will clash with suddenly resurgent Syracuse (6-3, 3-2) in a game Rutgers need desperately to win. Yes, it's been a tough season with the injury to and emotional toll of Eric LaGrand's paralysis. Today Rutgers needs to pass block like they haven't all season and control the pressure scheme of the Orange defense. That may be easier said than done with a freshman running the Rutgers offense in Chas Dodd. Chas, everything you have learned up until now must be on display today or you, the Scarlet Knights fan, can start doing the math. A loss today and Rutgers will have to pretty much win out to get to ANY bowl game this December. A daunting task for a freshman. It's our guess, unless Greg Schiano has somehow lost this team they'll respond with a huge effort today. Huge efforts don't always result in a win but here's hoping today.

Our guess? Tom Savage rallies the team in the 4th quarter, hits Mark Harrison with a late TD and it's the Rutgers defense that puts the hurt on Syracuse.

Prediction:
Rutgers 23
Syracuse 17

An outbreak of hippies sleeping in trees has afflicted Central Park

While hippies don't carry Dutch Elm disease (or do they?) hippies have been infecting elm trees in Central Park at night. Two twin brothers have been climbing 50 feet high with hammocks to tie off in the branches and sleeping in the canopy since September. Cory and Dana Foht who hail from Florida have been sleeping like ninjas, listening in on conversations below them, hidden from park police who comb the park each night looking for sleepers, and thus far safe from giant killer raccoons that hunt Central Park at night.

The New York Times will take it from here but if you see hippies sleeping in trees in Jersey City at night, you call the authorities or pretty soon your neighborhood will smell like patchouli and used hacky sacks will start plugging up the sewers.

Late night open thread

A glorious autumnal day on tap tomorrow thrillseekers. 63º and sunny as the day is long. NYC restaurants beckon...

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with STEVIE WONDER!

Simply an amazing talent. A case could be made that Motown's Stevie Wonder is the most talented musical package ever. A harp blowing little Stevie Wonder with 'Fingertips'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE RAVYNS!

Whoa nelly, grabbing this one back from obscurity tonight hipsters. Lets face facts, if it weren't for Fast Times at Ridegemont High none of us would know this little 50's inspired ditty. The Ravyns with 'Raised on the Radio'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with BLONDIE!

We'll wrap the music series this week with the most beautiful and haunting tune ever about communism. No, really. Here's Blondie with 'Shayla'.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Broken rail has PATH all ganked up this morning

PATH says a broken rail has interrupted service between Journal Square and 33rd St. as well as Hoboken this morning. The rail broke around 7:30 am according to spokesmodel Ed Rumpletumpkin. NJ Transit is honoring PATH tickets.

We blame rogue narwhals tunneling in the PATH rail lines.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Late night open thread

Notable quotes night:

"I've got all the money I'll ever need...if I die by four o'clock."
--Henny Youngman

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Happy Veterans Day!

The Jersey City Desk would like to take today and honor our Vets whom without, this place we call America sure would be different and not in a way we'd like to spend much time considering. To the friends and families of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in any war for any reason, you have our heartfelt best wishes and deepest thanks.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Late night open thread

Well hockey fans the Devils lost another close game at the Rock tonight in a shootout, 5-4 to the Buffalo Sabres. Johnny being the puck fiend noticed a lot of upper net goals tonight. A tremendous amount of goals enter the net six inches from the ice and lower but tonight the high shooters were rewarded.

Now, some Jersey City Desk exclusive game video (without the expressed written consent of the National Hockey League) of the end of tonight's game. Buffalo led into the fourth round of the shootout 2-1. The Devils needed $100 million dollar man Ilya Kovalchuk to pot a goal to keep the game alive. Here's the kind of shootout effort $100 million buys. The fans reaction? Priceless! Ilya, you'd better turn this angry mob around or it's gonna be a long 12 years.


Time for Jersey City, After Dark