Late night open thread

Words just simply do not do Lionel Messi justice anymore. Even if you don't watch sports watch this clip. Good GOD. There are times he simply gets hit by unseen lightning and does things you cannot achieve even on PlayStation, the game would simply freeze up then start smoking.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Up the Villa! Forca Barca!

What a great day for Johnny and his soccer clubs. First his little engine that could, Aston Villa take on powerhouse Arsenal at Wembley in the FA Cup Final. Then it's off to the Nou Camp in Barcelona where Barca will take on the boys from the Basque and Athletic Bilbao.

Johnny's phone is now going to voicemail.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE KINGBEES!

Here's a song we're betting you haven't heard in ages. Johnny's best friend Paco had a birthday this past week and this is one of his favorite tunes from back in the day, so in his honor, it's the Kingbees and 'My Mistake' kicking off the Music Series this week.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with CREAM!

Well Johnny met with the consultants about this website and the numbers were not good friends. Oh, not overall, no those numbers have never been better. For whatever reason a lot more folks from Jersey City and around the area are visiting the Jersey City Desk. No, the bad numbers delivered by the consultants is that we're just not reaching the valuable hippie and beatnik demographic. The consultants said nobody from AOL is dropping by which means no hippies and beatniks. Johnny's a guy who can change with the times, he's flexible and to show just that, here you go hippies and beatniks, Cream and 'Strange Brew'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with FLEETWOOD MAC!

Lost in the greatness and ultimate over-saturation of the 'Rumors' album is a wonderful little ditty on side B called 'I Don't Want to Know.' It's a harmonic gem with some really great Lindsay Buckingham riffs in it. Sending you on your way into this good night with said.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch

Until 7pm for the Jersey City Desk listening area and the tri-state. Welcome back to summer. Before you go hide in a bathtub or closet please enjoy this picture of our fav-o-rite food trucks on Washington this morning around lunchtime.

The video you're about to see is more than disturbing...

Real Jersey City has some very very incriminating video of Jersey City police drinking on the job, while carrying their service weapons, some stumbling drunk. Real Jersey City said this video we're linking to (and please read the story about a JCPD officer who discharged his gun in his patrol car) is JCPD officers at an off-duty event however they still have their uniforms and guns but this video is beyond horrible. Mr. Mayor, you said when you took office that, and we quote:

“What was acceptable before will no longer be tolerated. My expectation is that police and city employees will be role models both on and off duty. This situation is not acceptable and will be dealt with aggressively and fairly.”

So, fucking do something!

Late night open thread

State trivia night. The first capital of this state was a town called Guthrie but was later changed by popular vote. Which state is it? Answer here.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

A good meander...

Johnny's been meandering around today taking some snapshots of things that interest him. He did get over to 150 Bay St. today and that place is really coming alive. They've had the Jersey City Kickboxing Association there for a while now and it looks like Departed Soles is getting ready to go as well as a wine bar which will be located near Bay St. and Provost has chairs and tables in place but recently they put up the reflective foil inside so as not to give the finishing touches away. Also, make sure to stop by Bucket & Bay Gelato also in 150 Bay tomorrow from 8-2 pm for free coffee and WiFi.

The owner of this company should be paying @CHICpeaJC for the virtual use of her image

Finally, something fitting about what tax breaks for a hotel chain can do to a local economy

Late night open thread

Apologies friends, an especially busy day elsewhere. How 'bout them Rangers?

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Happy Memorial Day!

This is the one holiday Johnny always felt odd yelling Happy in front of. Have a soul-searching Memorial Day, have an introspective Memorial Day or maybe have a reflective Memorial Day. Honor our veterans and those in their support who have given their everything for our Republic. Honor our servicemen and women who are with us and lift them up. But do take time to ask how and why we got to the point that using them was needed. Are we using them as our blood and treasure or as sledgehammers? Respecting them also means using them only when needed and we'd think every vet would agree with that.

Late night open thread

You didn't think we were coming into the office with this magnificent weather on Memorial Day weekend did you? Don't make that mistake tomorrow. You don't want that.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Late night open thread

The view inside of today's Studio 54 before bed. Just a tad different from the old place.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

It's a Jersey City Desk Action Alert Day!

It's gorgeous, get out there and get active (those of us left in town anyhoo). Today may well be the best looking day OF THE YEAR. 68º and sunny as the day is long with a great breeze. This will be true until tomorrow when we get 78º and sunny. Action Alert people, get active, get out there and enjoy your city or that other big one where the trains go.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE HOLLIES!

Let's kickoff Memorial Day weekend in a fun way tonight. Who remembers bringing your AM radios to the beach or the park or camping? Who had an AM radio in their car growing up and the FM section was never pushed on the old Delco because FM was only stuff for dope smoking hippies? AM radio was originally where the music was at so let's get this groovy party started with the Hollies and 'Long Cool Woman' and maybe one of the ten best beginnings of any rock song evah.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with DIANA ROSS & THE SUPREMES!

AM Radio and Motown go hand in hand don't they? A Jersey City Desk shoutout to The Big 8, AM 800 CKLW (Windsor Ontario) on which Johnny heard this song a few billion times growing up. Diana Ross & The Supremes and 'Stop, in the Name of Love'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THREE DOG NIGHT!

Putting the wraps on a Memorial Day weekend AM Gold kickoff here's Three Dog Night with Shambala on real vinyl. Look kids, a record. You didn't even have to go to a boring museum to see one. Nope, you got your learn on right here at the Jersey City Desk and face it, the Music Series should count for credit in music schools.

Here's a video of the F-16 Thunderbirds roaring up the Hudson this morning

Johnny went up to Newport this morning to take some video and here's a quick clip:

Late night open thread

Had a wonderful time at Studio 54 tonight for the Jim Parsons in "Act of God." Some of the debaucheries that took place in that room so long ago were indeed discussed. But you know God, he saw everything....he wanted to.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

A Jersey City Desk Editorial -- Mayor Fulop, What?

Where to begin. Let's start with yesterday's news that our Mayor Steve Fulop seems to spend more time  setting up staff to run for governor than he does changing Jersey City and certainly following up his campaign promises. We've learned since he took office he secretly was making deals with a developer that would have given a chunk of Liberty State Park away for an F1 track. Yeah, that's pretty un-green of you Mayor. Know what else is un-green? Your downtown. More and more every day. Sure, you can stick a tree or two in a planter or put in a hedgerow and count as a green "initiative' but the eyes know different. We're still giving away huge tax breaks like Johnny Appleseed downtown, something Councilman Fulop railed against. He screamed bloody murder about the building going up at 110 First St. Watch him be the first in line to shake Lloyd Goldman's hand when he gets out of his limo at the opening. What's going on in the Heights? We've seen plans and talk in Journal Square, much like we did for all those years under Mayor Healy. Speaking of the former Mayor, let us not forget the economic boom downtown and the monies the city is taking in were started under him. Someone's not exactly being honest about the uptick on that. Alas, that money goes away sooner rather than later, and some of the first abatements that were set up downtown under former Mayor Healy are a mere ten years away from expiring, what is the plan for those who are suddenly going to not be able to afford what once was a dream? Without affordable housing downtown, which builders all agree to then they get the process going and tell the City Planners "Fuck off the poors can go elsewhere" the divide between downtown and everywhere in Jersey City not named downtown is going to grow and grow. Is that the plan, to let this happen? But, the current mayor is busy getting ready to run for governor and is concentrating his efforts not on Jersey City but on making sure the right people are in Jersey City government, (hey they even do some work city related too) that will help him on his "I Heart Drumthwacket" 2016 tour. Sure, maybe they do some work on city business, but at full on attention that we'd expect for our tax money? Imagine, just imagine if all the energy Mr. Fulop showed in his city council days as well as his run for mayor were put back into Jersey City at 100%. Just imagine the kind of mayor we could have had. Imagine Mr. Fulop's time not spend pandering to county and other city Democratic power brokers and attending fundraisers were spent on, well, US.

Another disturbing story this morning from Terrence T. McDonald at the Jersey Journal. Our mayor, according the the story personally told former Police Chief Robert Cowan to stop investigating a Jersey City police sergeant for being REALLY drunk while driving. The video we've linked to is awful. When Cowan found out that Robbinsville PD had extended Sgt. Vincent Corso a "professional courtesy" ride home and no mention because you can't drive drunk but cops can Cowan was mad and wanted internal affairs on it. But, OUR Mayor and Public-Safety Director James Shea according to reports:

Cowan alleges that Fulop repeatedly asked him to "get rid" of an internal affairs investigation into the January 2014 incident, and when he wouldn't, Fulop and Shea moved to put the internal affairs unit under Shea's control instead of Cowan's.

Mr. Fulop, as the former victim of a drunk driver, run down from behind on his bicycle which cost Johnny a shattered elbow, a nice gash across his chin and a few teeth, if you in any way shape or form intervened as to not get this officer in trouble after he was clearly driving intoxicated then you're an asshole. Yes, asshole. Yeah, that's why this is called an editorial. The police force has become an utter hash it would seem since Mayor Fulop took charge. Crime goes on as it has lo these many decades and all we hear are the internal squabbles and petty power plays going on around city hall with regards to our police force. Not your police force Mr. Mayor, OUR police force. We'd love to see the Jersey Journal run a poll and ask if the citizens of our fair city had the same faith in you running the JCPD as they did when Mr. Healy ran it.

So yes, Mayor Fulop, what? It's obvious you have already set your mind to bigger offices than the one you have or the whirlwind that was candidate Fulop, with seven councilmembers on his side could have done amazing things. Fun runs and ribbon cuttings at the odd small shop are great but if you want to run for governor you need some big ideas, bigger than the ones you're ignoring in Jersey City right now you once couldn't wait to tackle.

Late night open thread

Remember, if you don't go to your friends' funerals. they won't come to yours.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The Shake Shack in Madison Square Park was closed for months

It re-opened today to huge, incredibly huge lines. Really? Back on the first day? You had to know what it was going to be like. Johnny swears sometimes people have more time than brains. If Disneyland re-opened after say six months would you go on the day it opened back up? Of course not.

Help a blogger friends, why would someone needlessly go stand in a long line?

Late night open thread

Johnny's gonna lock up the Jersey City Desk offices and walk on home here in a few, he wants to get straight to bed so he can get up and eat breakfast.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Ward C Councilman Richard Boggiano had a bad day at Liberty State Park, cried about it

That's what it has to be called. A tantrum. Bogginao went to Liberty State Park and was shocked (SHOCKED) to find that the restaurant there is costly, that the historic Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal Building hadn't yet reopened after Superstorm Sandy and that the bathrooms were "pathetic". Boggiano posted these comments to his Facebook page and he was so certain of his viewpoint he's taken the Facebook post slamming all things Liberty State Park down. Way to look like a crank there Richard.

The fact that there were dirt roads in a state park seemed to confuse and shock Boggiano which clearly means he needs to get out of the shoebox with holes he lives in and visit some New Jersey state parks. So his solution? Screw it, get the state out of the business of running a STATE park and PRIVATIZE how it's run. Yeah Rich, we're sure you know just the guys to jump in and bid on that contract don't you? Normally people who scream for privatization have some idea how to help themselves or friends make money. Remember Michael Chertoff former second head of Homeland Security who said everyone must now go through "certain" metal and explosive detectors that turned you nekkid at all airports? Guess who owed the company that sold those? No, go on, guess. Nope, you were right the first time, Chertoff. So when Boggiano, after one disappointing trip, screams privatize it, we wanna know whom he might have in mind to run it.

We appreciated Sam Pesin, president of Friends of Liberty State Park, who pushed back and called Boggiano "dead wrong" and "uninformed."Nothing some funding won't fix as far as bathrooms and upkeep and reopening the Central Railroad Terminal Building, which Pesin said was coming along nicely. Interesting Steve Fulop would jump in and attack Boggiano's comments and stood for protecting LSP, you'll recall Fulop himself has backed a plan for a 95 story casino and an F1 racetrack that would claim some of LSP's land. We think we'll just listen to Mr. Pesin on this and all things LSP going forward.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

We'll have more, much more on councilman Boggiano's bad day on the morrow

We'll properly address Councilman Boggiano's no good very bad day at Liberty State Park and his complete overreaction tomorrow when it can be addressed properly.

Late night open thread

Johnny is beginning to think George R. R. Martin has something against wedding days.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

All hail FC Barcelona!

Johnny's favorite Spanish dish, FC Barcelona clinched their 23rd La Liga title today beating Atletico Madrid 1-0 on a Lionel Messi goal. Before the season started Barca signed Thomas Vermaelen, a  central defender who was supposed to shore up Barcelona's poor central defense from the last couple years. Well right before the season started it was announced he had a severe groin injury requiring surgery which kept Vermaelen out the entire year. Real Madrid fans fell over themselves laughing at Barca's misfortune.

He who laughs last...

Cristiano Ronaldo
199 games
222 goals
64 assists
83746 step overs
1938 hair cuts
1 La Liga title

Thomas Vermaelen
0 games
1 La Liga title

Sunday at the Jersey City Desk, more boring yet vital reading

If you live in New Jersey chances are, and Johnny's guessing here, you've been on some kind of train. Since this article deals with rail safety over the last twenty years, we'll use that as our baseline. Sometime in these last twenty years you've gotten on some kind of NJ-based train, PATH, Amtrak, NJ Transit, HB Light Rail, you're probably been on one.

In somewhat alarming news, especially after the horrible train accident in Philadelphia this week, did you know then 600 trains have derailed in New.Jersey over past twenty years AND the rate of "human error" in those derailments is TWICE the national average? Sobering news and you're probably wanting to know more at this point, good for you Johnny has a link.

Late night open thread

Johnny never did make it into the Jersey City Desk offices today. Apparently neither did anybody else. Ah well, there's always tomorrow.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Late night open thread

The Red Bulls picked up a point tonight in Dallas by playing to a 0-0 draw for those scoring (or not in this case) at home...

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with B.B. KING!

What a loss. Luckily we had a long run with Mr. King. He kept playing well into his 80's and touring over 100 nights a year in his late 80's. Incredible. Johnny saw him one night back about 10 or 12 years ago at his club in Nashville. If you check out Johnny's Twitter feed you can see the picture Johnny posted of Mr. King waving at him as he walked in his club.

So, let's set the mood. Turn the lights down. Get that cigar out you've been saving for something special. Pour yourself a couple fingers of bourbon over rocks and turn this one up. It's probably the best song ever at telling stories. If you've never heard the story of why his guitar was named Lucille well, he tells it right here in this song, aptly named, 'Lucille'.

Legends like this are always missed, but it sure seems like with B.B. King it hurts more.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE CARS!

Johnny just spent ten goddamned minutes looking back to see the last time we played The Cars on the Music Series. After ten minutes of searching Johnny went, huh, well, he owns the place so here's The Cars and 'Night Spots' from the Candy-O platter.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with CAB CALLOWAY!

Go open your windows. Johnny will wait here until you get back.

OK, good, ready? Wanna try something? Play this track, with the legendary (a word for tonight) Cab Calloway out front of The Blues Brothers Band on 'Minnie the Moocher' and when Cab Calloway sings Hi-Di-Hi-Di-Hi-Di-Hi and Ho De O De O De O you sing those parts really loud out your now open window and see if you get a reply.

It's like couch fishing with music.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Today, Johnny has but a simple question of you...

Let's suppose a great span of a bride were to one day be built over the Hudson River between New Jersey and New York. Whom would the bridge be named after?

Not so simple is it? Whom to choose? Is there someone who unites both states that they would name a bridge after them that will last for a century? Johnny asks because Detroit and Ontario Canada just brilliantly handled such a conundrum. For decades Detroit Michigan and Windsor Ontario have shared a border (it's the only place in the USA you pass south into Canada) and they have had two crossings, the Detroit/Windsor tunnel which runs from next to the Ren Cen in downtown Detroit (Yes the tallest set of buildings on the river) and comes out only two blocks from a Brewer's Retail in Windsor, handy! There is also the Ambassador Bridge that connects the highway systems of SE Michigan and Ontario. Trucks were taking up so much of the bridge traffic (inspections now being what they are after 9/11) another bridge was needed, badly. So, one is being built and it needed a name. This morning Michigan Governor Rick Snyder and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper held a press conference to announce the name. One that could well be unanimous in both Canada and Michigan. So, how DOES one solve such a bristly problem as a bridge name?

Name it the Gordie Howe International Bridge and everyone gets to drink for free that decided this.

So, back to our question about he bridge between NJ and NY, what's it called?

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Quite the bombshell this morning, and it goes off next to the Mayor

The Jersey City Daily posted a link on Twitter that helps show a mayor obsessed with fighting the Port Authority. Former Jersey City Police Chief Robert Cowan noted in court documents that though he had only recently assumed command, he said in Superior court documents that a top Fulop staffer told him exactly how they were going to try and "to obtain leverage against the Port Authority," and in doing so Cowan said, he saw illegal actions taking place:

Cowan's complaint in Hudson County Superior Court describes a meeting on Nov. 4, 2013, in which the mayor's chief of staff "issued an unlawful order to Cowan, instructing Cowan to establish a traffic stop (looking for seat belt violations) with the intent of shutting down traffic outside of the Holland Tunnel."

In fact Cowan said it wasn't just seat belts at the Holland Tunnel that had the mayor focused like a laser on the PA (Johnny's words), no, it gets much more vindictive, read on citizen:

Fulop's office nevertheless called Cowan in a week later to discuss plans for a traffic stop meant to check trucks coming out of the Port Jersey Global Container Terminal, according to the complaint.

When Cowan balked again, Fulop's allegedly responded with, "this is not a negotiation, I am telling you to do this."

Cowan says the truck stops at the terminal occurred on Nov. 18 and Nov. 18 but that he shut the traffic stop down because he perceived that the back-up it caused was "hazardous and a misuse of police resources."

An "angered" Fulop allegedly called for another stop to harass the Port Authority, but Cowan says he told the mayor "that his instructions were unlawful."

"Fulop became visibly angry and reminded Cowan: 'you serve at my pleasure' threatening that Fulop could remove Cowan as chief if he so desired," the complaint states.

So ladies and jellyspoons, Mr. Steve Fulop, Mayor of Jersey City and so obsessed with getting leverage over the Port Authority he's willing to make orders his police chief finds illegal on their face.

If this is true, and outside the city denying the overall lawsuit filed by Cowan, nobody in the Fulop administration has denied these comments, then we as a city have a problem. A egotistical "I'm never wrong problem" in our city. An "I'm willing to do whatever I want laws be damned" problem. Sure the Port Authority are assholes. Sure they rip us off daily. But we'd expect more from the mayor of Jersey City over this. Much more.

Late night open thread

Our best wishes to those injured and their families on the AMTRAK train from Philly to NYC earlier tonight.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Ward B Councilman Chico Ramchal pleads not guilty to assault by auto

Khemraj "Chico" Ramchal pled not guilty to his assault by auto charge after his alleged alcohol-fueled wreck in a JCIA Ford product March 14. If found guilty of this charge it carries a possible 18 months in the state clink. If you're a regular reader of the Jersey City Desk you know the rest of the story.

Johnny's of a couple minds here. As a victim of a drunk driver at 17 he has no tolerance for that shit. None. Accountability for that charge is essential. That being said Johnny's not one to just toss someone on their ear for one stupid thing provided it wasn't THAT stupid and the damage in this case to humans was minimal and property is all fixable. Yet a third mind wants some answers about where that JCIA vehicle was running all those "work related errands" late at night and at odd hours on weekends. THAT is what we need to know more about in all this and will probably help skew our final assessment in all this.

Late night open thread

I haven't slept for ten days, because that would be too long.
 -- Mitch Hedberg

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Red Bulls vs NYCFC, a photostory

A look back at yesterday's festivities out in Harrison.

Everyone off the PATH and over to Red Bull Arena. We heard stories like ghosts in the crowd last night of some NYCFC fans delaying PATH rides as they got a bit too loud and rowdy on the train over. Forgive them, they're new at this.

Won't you help rescue a Red Bull?

When you are allowed on the pitch and in such a lid you are a man not to be trifled with.

Damien Perrinelle builds the Red Bulls offense from the back.

Matt Miazga says goodnight early after the maths say yellow plus yellow equals red.

The amazing David Villa lobbies for a call, a call he didn't get. The kid in front of Johnny cleverly shows off Villa's hairstyle circa 2011 at Barcelona.

The Red Bulls hold a tight back line against the pop-gun offense of NYCFC.

Two for the Red Bulls! Amazing how much offense they were able to generate with only ten men most of the game. This clash could easily have been 4-1 instead of 2-1.

Goodnight Harrison, thank god we'll only have to deal with these NYCFC fans as far as Journal Square when they change trains to 33rd St.

Late night open thread

We'll have more, much more on the big Red Bulls victory over NYCFC tonight out in Harrison on the morrow. Enjoy this welcome message sent to the NYCFC club and fans from the Red Bulls right after the National Anthem. This is a Michael Kelso BURN and then some...

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

So it begins; Red Bulls vs NYCFC tonight!

Johnny will be there tonight signing autographs for the kids but let's NOT bury the lead, tonight in Harrison at Red Bulls Arena brings the first match between The New Jersey Red Bulls and NYCFC. In what Johnny is calling the Hudson River Derby tonight all MLS soccer eyes will be out in Harrison as a rivalry is born. The noobs, NYCFC and their star David Villa (Who happens to be Johnny's favorite player, mea culpa) take the PATH out to Harrison to take on the Red Bulls, yet another team living and playing in New Jersey who demand NYC's attention, as Stannis Baratheon would say, "Like beat dogs." and a team whose initial season thus far and lead up to it could be called second class. The NYCFC parent club Manchester City has enough money to make Solomon blush and yet the Cityzens must go to Yankee Stadium to watch them play because they don't have a stadium of their own. Manchester City, according to rumors, is ready to give Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola more money to manage their underwhelming European adventures than it would take to get NYCFC a real home. NYCFC also spent a good deal of time pushing season tickets with the promise of Man City's Frank Lampard coming to town only to have to admit after the fact, yeah they pretty much lied, he'd never signed an MLS contract at all and was staying at Manchester City at least until summer. Classic.

But, as the Devils and Rangers have managed to co-exist/co-hate one another Johnny thinks this is gonna be a fun derby. Sure, it'll take a wicked red card on someone's behalf or a great ending to really put the juice into it but it'll be great for local soccer fans.

To be honest Johnny's not an MLS fan. He doesn't watch usually unless the Red Bulls are playing a late match out west on a Saturday night. If that makes him a Euro snob it just does. He knows who he's going to support however in the Hudson River Derby. Sorry Mr. Villa, normally Johnny cheers wildly FOR you but as of today he's choosing a state, not a team.

GO Red Bulls!

Late night open thread

The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, and the young know everything.
 -- Oscar Wilde

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Read this before you dip your toes or go surfing on the Shore this weekend

Non-profit research group OCEARCH has been tracking a 16-foot, 3,500-pound great white shark they have named Mary Lee since tagging her in September 2012 in Cape Cod, Mass., according to the group's website. Each Time Mary brings her dorsal fin above water it 'pings' a satellite allowing OCEARCH to track Mary's whereabouts. Here is an image of an enlarged tracking map, one you can follow yourself by clicking here.

Truly amazing stuff. Again, be careful about going in the water until you check Mary Lee's website.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with NEKO CASE!

Oh stop it, it's been forever since Neko's been on the Music Series. Here's a great song from the Middle Cyclone album which she described as sort of her breakup song with the Pacific Northwest. Like the link on the right says, the Fabulous Neko Case and 'Red Tide' and oh by the way listen closely to the part from 1:55 to 2:15. If you hear that as someone's ringtone around Jersey City, boom, you've found Johnny.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE CLEVERS!

Johnny, who the hell are The Clevers? Never heard of them you say? They were a Detroit girl group who just never made it as big as The Supremes and Martha and The Vandellas et al. Still and all, groove with Johnny to The Clevers and 'Love Me Now'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS!

Haven't played the Chili Peppers on the Music Series in quite a while so we'll let them send us off tonight with 'Breaking the Girl'

Late night open thread

Ya don't say...

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

So, today is something called the National Day of Prayer

What nonsense. It's because of things like this voters and legislators vote based on their experiences with invisible men in the sky and the dead rising from the grave. This goes for any sky god or invisible, perhaps resurrected so-called deities out there. Johnny will even go a step further, sans a grand coincidence, not one prayer has been answered. Ever.

Basing your vote on food stamps or the death penalty or anything else and quoting a book where people lived inside whales is absurd.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Are there ghosts at the site of the Hindenburg crash?

Today is the anniversary of the famed Hinderburg crash in Lakehurst New Jersey. Earlier today the Twitter account of Weird NJ asked if perhaps there might be ghosts about the naval air station and crash site. Johnny, being a fan of the teevee show Ghost Hunters knew they had done a quite thorough investigations and did see some shadow people and catch voices. if you're up for a good scare an a history lesson here you go. You can skip ahead to the 35:00 minute mark if you just want to see the findings.

Late night open thread

Johnny had his first day off in forever today so he did what one normally does, go and get a cortisone shot in your knee, play copious amount of World of Warcraft, watch the Champions League and take a nap. If tomorrow works out well it'll be lather, rinse, repeat but Johnny will trade the cortisone shot for the gym.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Late night open thread

She's been married so many times she has rice marks on her face.
 -- Henny Youngman

 Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The Devils have made a very good choice as GM

Earlier today Devils President, sometimes GM, sometimes head coach, most times organizational gadfly Lou Lamoriello has hired former Penguins GM Ray Shero to the same post in Newark. Shero is a smart GM who managed to keep the Penguins competitive over the last decade winning one Stanley Cup in 2009. Sure, winning the draft lottery for Sidney Crosby in 2005 can make any GM's life easier but Shero also surrounded Crosby with smart draft picks and good value free agent signings. Johnny wishes him well and the stakes on this are high indeed. There are viable cites with viable NHL arenas waiting for franchises to fail. The Devils attendance has them on that precipice even during good regular seasons. Shero needs to work some magic here, and quickly.

Late night open thread

If you were a poor Indian with no weapons, and a bunch of conquistadors came up to you and asked where the gold was, I don't think it would be a good idea to say, "I swallowed it. So sue me."
 -- Jack Handey, Deep Thoughts

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

A stunning Jersey City Sunday!

Do get out there and enjoy! Johnny's been out a couple times and he's headed out again soon. These are the days you dream of on those bitter cold Sundays in January and February.

Late night open thread

Instead of paying attention to that overhyped and by most accounts underwhelming fight tonight between Mayweather and Pacquiao, the staff here at the Jersey City Desk wants to give you a real prize fight to enjoy. The classic 1934 famous Pop Goes the Weasel' fight scene in "Punch Drunks" from The Three Stooges.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Saturday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with OHIO PLAYERS!

Johnny said to himself that he owed you all some rock and roll after last night and instead of overthinking each week's selections as to what sounded good with something else or some hidden theme only Johnny sees or just the right songs fit that night, he said the next three songs that come on the iPod are tonight's Music Series. Thank the Flying Spaghetti Monster one of them wasn't Captain and Tenille or Pablo Cruise. Ohio Players start a hot set tonight with 'Fire'

Saturday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with SONIC YOUTH!

Did you say utes?


No, youth, as in Sonic Youth as in get ready to rock around the house whenever it's on. 'Kool Thing' makes us happy!

Saturday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE PRETENDERS!

So, yeah, once again sorry about last night and let's rock on outta here with a hot live version of 'Day After Day'

Apologies for the lack of updates citizens, hardware issues

Into each life a little hardware issue must fall. Johnny and the staff are dealing with a hardware issue, one we hope to get fixed up on a permanent basis ASAP.

We thank you for your patience.

Late night open thread

Johnny's Browns went an entire draft night without soiling themselves for all to see. In fact, they did well. Up is down and down is up all day tomorrow.

Tome for Jersey City, After Dark