Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Late night open thread

Much better thanks for asking.

Dateline Florida where an alligator that belongs in a Jurassic Park movie roams a golf course. Seriously, this just isn't right. That's not CGI people. That's real and real unfortunate it didn't turn and snap up the guy with the camera. You sincerely get the feeling you're looking at at dinosaur. Nature is amazing.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Near migraine status

He doesn't get them often but Johnny's bordering on one right now. Back with you tonight.

Monday, May 30, 2016

Late night open thread

Because we had extra bandwidth to share.
















Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Happy Memorial Day!

To all of our vets, man and woman alike, those who have served our nation and those who have given all. Happy Memorial Day, it's never taken lightly at Johnny's house.

Photo of Johnny's dad serving in Korea.

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Late night open thread

Johnny needs a dragon.













Time for Jersey City, After Dark

We're back to it getting shooty out there

Johnny is putting up light coverage this weekend as he needs some down time but does want to point out that 8 shootings in a 48 hour period is very troublesome and we're hopeful this sin't where things are headed this summer. We know the Public Safety Director reviews all shootings and looks at whom and if known why and yes a lot of these shootings seem to be coming from known troublemakers but let's not let them plink a good guy first.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Late night open thread

Despite making a vow of not being out in the sweltering heat all day guess what? Johnny got to be outside or exposed to the heat most of the day. He's no wuss but he will bitch about it later.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Late night open thread

Speaking of movies and music...













Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday, May 27, 2016

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with RAY CHARLES!

Johnny was out and about tonight and saw a small group near downtown doing some filming with the lights, light deflectors, nice cameras and what not and it dawned on him, "Fuck those people, we should have a movie songs night on the Music Series tonight."

Guess what? Movie song night!

Johnny cannot listen to this song, Ray Charles and 'The Mess Around' and not think of John Candy using the dashboard as a keyboard, then managing to accidentally flick his cigarette butt into the back seat while getting his coat more and more caught in the drivers seat in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. Johnny just laughs and laughs sometimes when he hears it. Tonight thought, it's just a great rocker that has a movie connection.

OK, LOL LOL, it's hilarious again...















Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTAVAGANZA with TOM TOM CLUB!

Yes this song has been used in several movies over the years but the one Johnny is using as his official movie night claim is Tom Tom Club and this song 'Genius of Love' appearing in 1894's Stop Making Sense. Yes, Johnny is using the fact Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz are in both bands to his advantage here. It's not "Hold the Door" but yeah, he's calling crossover.

Also, shame on you Target for changing the words to this in your ad, That's a Bozo no-no.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with EDDIE MONEY!

In 1979 they made a really bad movie called Americathon. The country is going broke and is about to be repossessed by the native Americans to wit the President holds a telethon to raise the necessary moolah. It's really bad. The only reason in fact many musicphiles remember the movie at all is that the title song was a pretty good Eddie Money song 'Get A Move On' which was mostly lost to history, sucked under by the undertow of this shitheap of a film.

Saved from drowning, it's Eddie Money wrapping things up tonight on the Music Series.

Late night open thread

“It’s a sure sign of summer if the chair gets up when you do.”
 -- Walter Winchell

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Thursday, May 26, 2016

The last straw

It happened this morning, about the time Johnny saw the Red Bulls feed on Twitter coming out with yet another change in bag policies wherein clear bags with draw strings are no longer allowed. What the fuckity fuck ever. Yes, treat everyone who wants to go to your event like a would-be terrorist. If you're to the point a clear bag with draw strings is somehow a McGyver terror kit then Johnny's just done with the lot of you. He had to deal with a shitty brand spanking new bag policy down in New Brunswick at the Michigan State vs Rutgers football game October 10th. Oh hey, we forgot to tell you, yeah her purse can't come in but if you go to the other side of the stadium we have a locker truck set up and for the low low one time price of 10$ we'll hold your wife's purse for the night. Yeah, no planned profiteering going on there. Just a quick explanation of "Well we just decided to go with the NFL policy." Well thanks for telling anyone.

So no Red Bulls, Johnny's enjoyed going in the past but no more. No NFL games, No RU football games, no to anywhere that acts like this. At Devils games they look in your bag and let you in, they haven't given in to this "The guest is not to be trusted" policy so you know it's not some set in stone mandated law as certain venues would like you to believe. Red Bulls, don't call Johnny anymore about ticket plans (he unsubscribed from your constant emails a while ago but that did nothing) or this or that. The team may well be playing deep into the playoffs. Swell, just sell that seat to someone else.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Late night open thread

How ya feeling Jimmy?
Like a mean mother fucker, sir!
Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Gothamist took a good look at the food and drink scene in Jersey City...

...just don't read the comments if you're from Jersey City.

Yes, a very nice and rather full look at the food and drink scene in Cool City (You could have included Bucket and Bay) with some nice write-ups. Many here will already be familiar with the restaurants and bars and coffeehouses as we regularly discuss them here. It's a good look at how someone else views our restaurants.

Now, as for the comments they seem to come from bitter, entitled hipsters who think it simply can't be any good if it's across the Hudson River. Yes, that is actually their 'argument' in many cases. One of the commenters resorted to what they thought was a clever 'Stop trying to make Jersey City happen' pre-made meme generator which should tell you all you need to know about the bitter shits who comment on Gothamist on all things NJ. They're deep thinkers who, when they see something not named NYC immediately fall back into 9th grade bunker mode. That's fine, as the old adage goes more for us. We will however leave a closing comment to those across the way who live with this anti-anything not NYC attitude:

Fleet Week kicks off this morning

So if you're down by the Hudson River head on down for the parade of tall ships coming into New Jersey Harbor and by Jersey City's Statue of Liberty! Plenty of vendors with lemonade and cold water for you on this early 90º day!

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Late night open thread

Johnny has been talking back and forth with the singing legend known as Kelly Hogan on Twitter tonight as the old Bod Seger song, 'Mainstreet' came up and Johnny was dreamily imagining Ms. Hogan and her beautiful voice nailing that last Mainstreeeeeeeeeeeetttttt near the very end of this song. Johnny told her he'd come up with copious amounts of Uncle Sam's best green pocket liner to hear it. Kelly offered him a money back guarantee if he can get to Evanston Illinois by this Thursday. So ah, Johnny doesn't fly so if you're taking the I-80 to the end of the night we're there. Ride share in comments.

Well, this was going to be your Late night open thread, a little musical banter with a really truly great singer until Bob Seger's record company who shall remain nameless because why even let them read their names, took down every studio version of Mainstreet and frankly the live versions are from the second deck on first generation iPhones. So, record company dongbeavers, you ruined everyone's good time because you were too cheap and or lazy to open a Vevo.

Assholes (and we're starting to like this gif frankly)














Time for Jersey City, After Dark

When you see good journalism you want to share it

The search for a Jersey City "preacher" who was set to be sentenced for sexual assault of a minor has led to Nicaragua where he currently preaches and has contact with children. A fascinating story of a prosecutor who forgot to ask for the perv's bail to be revoked after trial, the judge who let the perv stay out of jail awaiting sentencing, and of course those Jersey City residents who spoke in support of this preacher may well be helping support him as NJ.com can prove they go to visit a wanted man. It's all in there and more.

This great piece of investigative journalism is a must read after dinner tonight. Great job by By Mark Mueller and Brian Donohue.

Monday, May 23, 2016

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Today's winner of the "Just put that anywhere" award

Good lord...

Late night open thread

7 titles in 9 competitions in two seasons. 3 of the last 4 league titles, 2 straight Copa Del Rey titles and last years sweep of Copa, La Liga and Champions League titles. If they played here it's be all SportsCenter would talk about.

It's an FC Barcelona world, we just live in it. Messi to Neymar Jr. to seal it.

Late night open thread

Sunday, May 22, 2016

This just in...

The Red Bulls have scored again...

We now return you to your regularly scheduled Sunday afternoon.

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Late night open thread

Where did the day go? A couple dog walks, some surgery prep, the Red Bulls beating the living shit out of NYCFC 7-0 and a little Warcraft and here we are. That Red Bulls game though, that calls for a round of the South Ward singing to us before bed.

NYCFC, LOL. Oh you're gonna pay for today's effort at Red Bull Arena next time around with withering derision from the best fans in MLS. Take it away South Ward.

TIme for Jersey City, After Dark

Late night open thread

“A lion doesn't concern himself with the opinions of a sheep."
 -- Tywin Lannister

Time for Jersey Ciity, After Dark

Friday, May 20, 2016

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE CHARLATANS UK!

Getting in just under the the tape before midnight we'll kick things off with a song that always sounds good but especially turned up in your car with the windows down on a dandy evening such as this. The Charlatans UK and 'The Only One I Know'

Enjoy the great bass on this song performed of course by the legendary Bassy McBassface.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with SLIM HARPO!

Nobody ever played harmonica better than Slim Harpo. There may have been some as good but none better. Here's a real great song, 'That Ain't Your Business' and it truly shows off Slim Harpo's talents and the song itself has a backbeat that just can't be beat. From the Jay Miller Sessions in 1957 in Los Angeles, this IS your business...

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with OINGO BOINGO!

Danny Elfman? Yes please. Here's a movie trivia question on your way out the door to all the clubs and so forth, which movie did this song, 'Goodbye Goodbye' play over the ending credits of?

Drop us an answer in comments.

The Jersey City Desk is holding it's first contest!

What a unique idea, right?

OK, here's the deal. We want you to go and photograph the oldest left behind No Parking sign (most likely it'll have duct tape on it and be in tatters) within the Jersey City limits. If yours is the oldest Johnny will make a donation in your name of $50 to the Liberty Humane Society (He'll give it anyway but it'll just go in under YOUR good name). We'll run this until July 4th, an easy date to remember. You can email them to Johnny, post them to Twitter and @Johnny on it, or if you Facebook it or Instagram it do let Johnny know as he's not got an account on either.

So, you see these goddamned awful looking things hanging off trees, fences, light posts etc and they all look just like shit don't they? The Jersey City Parking Authority is simply too lazy to go clean up after themselves. How hard is it? They're all over town and obviously have a record of where they put them so clean them up. They often paper over the exact same spots around construction sites. Do they clean up the old ones? No they just put the new ones over the old ones.

To quote the Mayor of Mount Rose Minnesota in the movie Drop Dead Gorgeous, "Lazy sons-of-bitches."

Some of these things are YEARS old and that's where you come in. If they won't clean up we'll simply publicly embarrass them (if possible at this point).

Go, times a wasting!

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The death of the influencer economy seems to shock some

When Johnny was back with a ginormous PR firm a while back he'd tell anyone who'd listen that advising companies to pay the "influencer" or someone they'd pay to have post a product image or Vine or blog post once or twice a day or a week and get paid big bucks was horseshit. It struck some as very direct and out there but will you look at this. It's crashing down and those who made lots of money for not very much other than selling soap are coming off as the entitled dotars Johnny always said they were/are. Social media most people don't look at advertising (while being the genesis of online pay to play laws and mea culpas about admitting posts are paid) wasn't going to move the dial all that much for the amount they are paying and more importantly the somewhat sleazy way this all ended:

Once brands began to realize that some dipshit’s Vine account wasn’t going to make cans of Ragu or whatever go flying off the shelves, “influencers” cried foul. After all, their way of life–waking up, posting an Instagram of a cereal box, tweeting about laxatives, calling it a day—was threatened. They’d found a tremendous scam, and it sucks when your easy money train gets derailed. (I get it! I’ll be just as upset when blogging dies.)

Here we are at the Jersey City Desk, we've never taken ads and we never will. If your product or company gets mentioned in a good way it's because they earned it the old-fashioned way.

Tom Petty take us out:

Jersey City expands the police/citizen advisory board which will have zero real impact

Jersey City has added citizen members to it's police advisory board which is commendable but rather pointless. No matter what the new members do or say, the city  or JCPD is under no obligation to do anything they suggest. The list of the new members to the board is impressive:

The six new members of the board are public-school teacher Janine Brown; Pedro Figueroa, who oversees security operations for a Waterfront building; Asheenia Johnson, spokeswoman for Assemblywoman Angela McKnight; Pamela Johnson, founder of the Jersey City Anti-Violence Coalition; Dana Patton, who founded a Downtown neighborhood watch; and data analyst Denise Ridley.


...but for all that input it'll never amount to anything if those who would be overseen don't want to be overseen. The JCPD does not want anything similar to what Newark just implemented, a REAL citizen advisory board that has "investigatory and subpoena powers." THAT is how you bring about change. Sure the Newark cops don't like it but you know what? Too fucking bad. You work FOR the city. If you don't like the rules and laws the citizens draw up you can go be a cop elsewhere or better yet, go work at Sears. Remember, badges DO NOT afford extra rights. What this Jersey City board needs to be effective is the same powers as Newark has. Then and only then will Jersey City have the oversight committee that can actually correct issues with cops. Until then we have no TRUE oversight citizen committee, just like the Fulop Administration (who constantly bleat on about their transparency while defying the very definition of the word) and the JCPD want.

Late night open thread

All hail Johnny, WINNER of last night's Hashtag Wars contest on the Comedy Central show @Midnight. First Johnny made the Top Ten then his post was listed as the winner.

It's good to be the king.





















Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Johnny can officially pick up his 'Jersey' card

He managed to beat the bots and secured some good seats to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band on their River tour in August somewhere in the swamps of Jersey.

Color Johnny fired up!

Late night open thread

The more Johnny reads from the Bernie newcomers, Bernie Bros & #FeelTheBern supporters on the Twitter the more he really doesn't like them.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

If you'd like the Ward B council seat, and you'll do whatever the mayor says, here you go

With disgraced and slapped-down on Twitter Chico Ramchal's Ward B seat up for anyone of voting age living in Ward B AND willing to pretty blindly do whatever Mayor Steve Fulop says since he appoints the replacement until the next election to fill the seat had better act fast. If you want to be considered send a cover letter and resume to wardbcouncil@jcnj.org. Probably a no-show job or a selfish DWI might not be the kinds of things you'll want to highlight.

If you can nod your head up and down and say "yes" you should probably send a resume. Seriously.

Monday, May 16, 2016

Late night open thread

Just happened. Johnny's playing a hashtag game on Twitter where the goal is to come up with funny interpretations of a certain #. The hashtag was 21st century excuses, ie excuses people may use in this day and age. Here's Johnny's take on how people beg for pills for any little thing and god love 'em Fitbit actually jumps in because Johnny went to get vicodins because his Fitbit gave him a rash.

Big LOL's


















Time for Jersey City, After Dark

A Hudson County hero of Titanic fame remembered in Jersey City

Robert J. Hopkins, of Irish descent and living in Hoboken at the time of the fateful Titanic trip, was remembered in a ceremony in Jersey City's Holy Name Cemetery. Hopkins is credited with saving around 130 passengers as he was instrumental in cutting lifeboat #13 free just before lifeboat #15 lowered on top of #13, destroying both and plunging all into the icy Atlantic Ocean.

Truly a fascinating story of a Hudson County hero. Follow this link for a great Monday read.

We're all for intelligent discussions here

BUT, if you come here and LIE and try to protect the guilty, then it's gonna get ugly, real ugly.














You've got something intelligent or something good to add to the discussion, let's hear it. Feel free to disagree with Johnny and the staff, we're cool with it.

Just don't lie and let us catch you in it.

Late night open thread

Now that the lying apologist trash from Friday's wildly popular post has been taken out in the comments section, it's time for bed.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Sunday, May 15, 2016

A little Sunday street art

On First St., take a walk and find out where on this gorgeous Sunday.

Saturday, May 14, 2016

Late night open thread

If Hamilton can make Ticketmaster play nice over resales why don't they just do it like this all the time to protect you and Johnny's ability to get a fair shot at tickets to shows. We'll call this a great start.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Some imagery from today's Newport 10K through the streets of Jersey City

What a great event for our fair city! The folks at Newport do such a great job putting this on. Here are some of the many images Johnny took downtown this morning (You can click on the images for a bigger view):

And here they come!














The leaders of the men's division exhibiting good form.















The leader of the women's division and boy is she out there all alone.
















Some of today's runners ripping it up!


















What a great morning for a run.













Making the turn at Warren heading towards the Statue of Liberty











Gotta love the team spirit!



















And as seen on the Twitter, Mayor Steve Fulop presses on down First St.

Friday, May 13, 2016

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with PETER FRAMPTON!

It's 70's night here on the Music Series! You get all three of tonight's songs for free but you have to promise to buy just three videos at regular club prices over the next three years. So what if they're $27.99 each? Johnny's not even making you send him a penny to get all these fine 70's tracks, probably right off an 8-track somewhere. We're going to kick it all off tonight with a big 1970's hit 'Do You Feel Like We Do', all 14 minutes of it. Hey, remember, 70's.

To that end, smoke 'em if ya got 'em

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE ALAN PARSONS PROJECT!

Boy does Johnny love this song and boy howdy does it scream 1970's, 1977 for those keeping score at home. Alan Parsons had his talented fingers all up in the 70's producing Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon album, maybe you've heard of it. Parsons won a Grammy for his efforts on it.

1970's night rolls on with 'Some Other Time'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with STEVIE WONDER!

You can't throw a 70's night and not have some Stevie Wonder, especially on his birthday. Out of Saginaw Michigan, happy 66th birthday to the one and only Stevie Wonder! 'I Wish' from 1976 sending you on your way tonight.

The Mayor and City Council President have some serious questions to answer

Johnny's been letting this story simmer this week and let the facts trickle out organically and trickle they have.

First, a little stage setting. Transmission is a club at 150 Bay St. that despite the locals push back was deposited in a small crowded area of the Powerhouse Arts District. All the concerns locals have voiced thus far have come true and yet the city is glacial in dealing with them.

Transmission a month ago was raided and arrests made. Underage drinkers and drug sales were the order of the night. Undercover officers went in and instead of taking notes for future reference felt things were so bad they brought in the black and whites. How BAD is it in there? Great for the PAD property values by the way to have such a club in operation. Underage drinkers and drug sellers. Classy.

Two weeks after that police were called as the clientele got out of hand, were seen drinking and taking drugs in cars, and challenging pedestrians walking by to fistfights. The Transmission owner said the booking agent that night tricked him.

Last Saturday night at Transmission a local style blogger had a party. The crowd was large and the streets were packed as usual and nobody in the neighborhood could sleep with the windows open.

Steve Fulop, Jersey City Mayor, showed up (for what the party host said was about two hours) along with Council President Rolando Lavarro. The two top members of the Jersey City government hanging out in a club with such a reputation? One where drugs have recently been sold and underage kids drink. Why would either think this is a good idea, to contribute their names to such a place? At this point the only thing missing from Transmission are illicit dice games on the 150 Bay veranda but there they were, giving the glad hand.

Their presence gets more scrutiny when the police showed up to go through the club at 1am. Did police not know Fulop was inside? Is the club so bad (and remember Johnny pointed out the undercovers went in at 1am in his report on this last Sunday) they feel they just need to go inside and check around? If so, again, what business do the mayor and council president have inside?

Which brings us to our last order of business, yes, the mayor and council president were more than likely present at a party where drugs were being used. Remember this bag of powdery substance right outside Transmission, taken by Johnny Sunday morning?


















See those items? Those are the exact kinds of things that quickly get dumped when police start showing up.

Is this the kind of example you, Mayor Fulop and Council President Lavarro want to set? Is this a good message from either of you? Know what it is? It's every bad stereotype of the new downtown setting itself in stone to the rest of the city.

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The contemptible Chico Ramchal has resigned in disgrace

Contemptible? Oh you bet. He has contempt for taxpayers and the people in his ward when he cuts a plea deal to not go to jail for five years for falsifying job records for his no-show job. Yeah, a no-show job and some still say this clown really works hard for people.

Horseshit. The people saddest to see him go are the ones in Ward B who see a chance to make a buck trading off his name. The people who he boldly protected by stopping fines for parking across sidewalks and non-running cars in front yards.

Contempt for anyone and everyone in his CHOICE to drive drunk. He didn't think there'd be any consequences for it because of who he is. If it weren't for the award winning reporting from the Jersey Journal's Terrence T. McDonald we never would have found the incredible level of contempt Ramchal has for Jersey City residents (or anyone else in his path that night). He's probably stunned it went this far. Johnny's quite happy it went this far and is upset it didn't go further.

Let's face facts, Chico Ramchal got a special deal in all this because he had a Jersey City council job to forfeit and make the judge look good. He should be in jail. Time on both counts. Judges sentence for contempt of court well how about jail time for contempt of city? Contempt of taxpayer?

Johnny's very outspoken on drunk drivers and their lazy self serving choice to do so because he was the victim of one. Especially out here, in the land of taxis and Ubers and Lyft. Again, Ramchal didn't think the rules applied to him so these ideas probably never even crossed his mind.

Selfish contemptible lawbreakers shouldn't get special treatment as Ramchal did here because they have a shiny object to barter with. Johnny will never get used to nor accept the politicking and the blind eye turned as it is here in Jersey City. Hell, he half expects Rolando Lavarro to wait two years and try and name a park after Chico.

Jersey City, make it yours.

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Late night open thread

“Show me somebody who is always smiling, always cheerful, always optimistic, and I will show you somebody who hasn't the faintest idea what the heck is really going on.”
 -- Mike Royko

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Central Park just opened four previously off-limits acres

It's true, a section of Central Park, almost four acres has been off-limits to everyone and has recently started allowing people back in, as long as it's during limited times and limited amounts of people:

Did you know that there are four acres of Central Park that have been closed off since the 1930s? While the Central Park Conservancy has given the park a remarkable new life since the 1980s, they haven't quite gotten to everything, but now they've announced a "new" (to you) section is ready for humans: the Hallett Nature Sanctuary (née Promontory) will open this summer.

Aside from Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, the Sanctuary—located by the Pond—is the only permanently fenced-off section of the park. “The story is, [then Parks Commissioner] Robert Moses closed it off because he wanted it to turn into a bird sanctuary,” said the CPC's Douglas Blonsky.

So follow this link and see the exact whens and wheres to get a look at this previously unseen (and unspoiled) tract of land.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Late night open thread

“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out for himself, without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane and intolerable, and so, if he is romantic, he tries to change it. And even if he is not romantic personally he is very apt to spread discontent among those who are.”
 -- H.L. Mencken

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

In the words of Johnny Rotten...

"...Oh Bollocks, why should I carry on?"

Those famous words are indeed from Johnny Rotten, playing what would be the Sex Pistols last ever show at Winterland in San Francisco. Rotten had watched things deteriorate among the band members and especially the management of the tour and in general and was just ready for it all to end.

So is Johnny Action Space Punk.

Why should Johnny continue to give two shits about a city that doesn't even care about itself? Elected officials and government employees (and their three or more government jobs) have been proving to Johnny over these last 8 years they don't give a shit. They are only there to enrich themselves while getting away with doing as little as possible. We have a person on council the Mayor treats with kid gloves who DROVE DRUNK and crashed a government vehicle. Yet the mayor or other council members say jack shit about Chico? Why? Are they afraid to tell him "Hit the bricks asshole you've caused us enough embarrassment. Why are you still here?" So city council and the mayor don't care, never have OR they'd speak out against such behavior as drunk driving and a no-show job. This is Jersey City and since Chico makes Stevie's job easier you'll never hear anything and that's beyond sad. Of course contempt for voters, graft and poor decisions are what 280 Grove St was built upon and it continues today.

That's another proof-positive reason the people in charge could give a shit, no-show jobs and government employees getting that third government job. Nowhere else does this happen. Johnny has lived in other places and nowhere is the money grubbing for government jobs so pronounced. 95% of these people can't do ONE government job well let alone a second or third. They bleed society dry of positions that should be effective in helping people and not hoarded but again, this isn't changing and likely never will and it shows again the powers that be don't really care. We're also now, since the police like it so cushy and cannot be bothered to answer calls or do anything not privateered, we'll make their lives miserable in posting and taking more images of steroid-infused sleeping Jersey City police in their cars. We'll even include one at the end just for laughs (hey, since actually working to improve the city isn't an option for these guys let's just go for the laughs).

The city doesn't care about sending cops when citizens call so why should Johnny care anymore? The most basic city service, I need a cop please send one is met with indifference and churlishness. Here's something you never knew about Johnny; He'd go out two and sometimes three nights a week around 2am, walk the dire wolf and make notes about missing manhole covers, detritus in the street or across the sidewalks, downed power lines etc. From Coles St. area to Grand to the River and through the PAD. He'd walk here and there and make notes of burned out streetlights and take all this info on his own time and send it to the proper departments with the picture documentation and where the thing that needed attention was located. Then he'd sit and watch as weeks and months go by and nothing gets done and as many of you know follow-up calls in this city are treated by dispatchers like YOU are the true problem. He's done with this. He's done trying to make a true difference with suggestions and ideas. He has better ways to spend his fucking time. He's not calling the police on suspicious people or drug users in cars. If the city officials and PD won't do something about it all, then yes, the city deserves it. He can only send the city departments five, six and seven videos showing someone WILL be run down by lazy, selfish drivers making a quick right into oncoming one way traffic on Second St. from Warren to cut through the BJ's parking lot to get to Washington. He's sent videos of people almost being run down there. Nobody contacts him or does anything about it. When someone does get hit and sues the city, Johnny will ensure all the emails and videos he sent the city will be made available to the victim. Again, yes, the city will deserve the lawsuit. They deserve to lose millions.

Johnny's done trying to make a difference with preventative measures and ideas. Instead Johnny is just going to point out the scofflaws and idiots, moron city workers, and sleeping cops. Plenty of that to keep us entertained but as far as investing any more time (or his own money) in trying to improve Jersey City, he's out because it's apparent from our city "leaders" and department heads and government employees they don't want anything to change and will work very hard to keep things in their current FAILED stages here in Jersey City.

Johnny's got the money, he can live and retire anywhere he wants and forever he thought it'd be right here. Now, after seeing, really seeing his city government and departments in inaction, he's just not that sure anymore.

Know this though, a city asset is taking a cue from the "leaders" and saying fuck it.

Protecting the city, one nap at a time, the JCPD...

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Monday, May 9, 2016

Despite the shithole that is Transmission night club, 150 Bay has some great businesses

Johnny has documented ad nauseum the ridiculous amount of crap the Transmission night club dumps on the PAD every seemingly weekend as millennial narcissists head to Aspirational Acres and in search of their own good time and don't much care for those who live where they party. Drug usage, drinking and rugs in cars, police raids, arrests et al. It's too bad too because 150 Bay St. has some really great and vibrant businesses.

One of those (Along with Bucket & Bay Gelato and JC Kickboxing) great shops is Departed Soles Brewing Company and they are now World Champions:

Located in the Powerhouse Arts District, the brewery won the medal in the Gluten Free Category for "A Dark Night," one of its two 100 percent gluten-free beers.  

Over 6,500 beers were entered into the 2016 Word Beer Cup, coming from 1,907 breweries from 55 countries. Judges gave out gold, silver, and bronze medals in most of the 96 style categories.

Owner Brian Kulbacki had this to say on his philosophy:

I ventured down this path in memory of my best friend, and I would never put out a beer that would tarnish this lasting legacy of our friendship." 

The brewhouse is the first in Jersey City since Prohibition, and the only brewery in the tri-state that has beer with gluten-free ingredients, according to a news release. 

By all accounts Kulbacki and his Departed Soles are a tip top company and a great neighbor. Many lessons to be learned at 150 Bay St. from Departed Soles if you get our drift.

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Late night open thread

That Tower of Joy fight scene tonight on Game if Thrones was magnificent.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Johnny learned quite a bit about Millennials this wekeend

They are aspirational and self-centered little things. They have little to no respect for your property or the fact you have built up your life to a comfortable place if that gets in the way of their good time. They seem tone deaf to the realities of the parts of the world they don't immediately deal with. They don't pay property taxes. The ground is their trashcan.

Also, they get listened to far more often than is necessary to listen to low-information young-adults.

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Late night open thread

Johnny's getting to play security man tonight on the front lines. At least it's different.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Late night open thread

Don't miss Jersey City's own Amphetamine Players as they perform the 15 minute version of Titanic on Liberty St. (Find the back of the White Castle parking lot off of Kennedy Blvd. and go west) this upcoming Mother's Day rain or shine, pills or no pills at 2pm (and probably 3pm or until police come).

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday, May 6, 2016

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE YOUNG HOLT TRIO!

Ok, there's never enough money (or in the early days of a band, "proceeds") to go around. One way, unless you plan on being The Police or Green Day, is to drop that fourth member and yet another is to cut out the guy who gets all the residual checks because he wrote all the lyrics.

Judging by this one The Young Holt Trio from the old Brunswick label should be buying all the rounds. You'll hear what we mean as you listen to 'Wack Wack' kicking things off tonight.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with KELLY HOGAN!

This song evokes so many memories for Johnny. It's a great song but when you can make an extra connection because it reminds you of many things and times in life, well that gets it on the Music Series. A 70's song coming from the neighbor's pontoon in the old neighborhood, a great country song coming in loud and clear (with none of that annoying channel drift) on an AM radio station at night while lying in bed with his transistor radio on WRVA Richmond Virginia or WSM in Nashville.

On a side note, Silica Gel, don't eat that.

From the terrific album "I Like to Keep Myself in Pain" here are the song stylings of Ms. Kelly Hogan and 'Haunted'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with SHAGGY!

Using the adage that you just can't feel bad while listening to reggae music and this week has been one dreary, rainy mess with tonight being no exception, we're sending you out to the parties tonight to Shaggy's 'Boombastic'

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Late night open thread

“It was a rainy night. It was the myth of a rainy night.”
 -- Jack Kerouac, On the Road

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Lest you feel Johnny always picks on the mayor

He had nothing to do with The Star-Ledger's Tom Moran saying of Mayor Steve Fulop, and we quote:

"Fulop on Wednesday threw a tantrum aimed at George Norcross, the political boss from South Jersey who controls the party's biggest and most unified faction...

Fulop is not the powerhouse that Norcross is when it comes to moving votes in the Legislature. But many Democrats outside South Jersey resent Norcross -- a centrist who has allied himself repeatedly with Gov. Chris Christie -- and Fulop wants to be their hero..."

Moran goes on to point out Fulop makes cryptic if not outright claims Norcross was trying to enrich himself in casino deals in Atlantic City (among other things) and when pressed, or his talking heads were pressed for proof, Fulop had none.

Then Norcross got his turn and things escalated quickly:

"My father always told me never to interrupt someone making a fool out of themselves," he said in a written statement. "But it is important to note that the mayor did not always have a negative impression of me. He has repeatedly sought my advice and support, including just a few months ago when he traveled two hours to my office in South Jersey and begged for my support for governor.

"I respectfully declined, but perhaps that rejection is behind today's unhinged statement."

Wow, that ball hasn't landed yet.

For basically walking into that shovel in the face from Norcross, Moran awarded Fulop with "The Dumbest Stunt of the Year Award."

Perhaps you recall the movie Apocalypse Now. As Martin Sheen was meeting his new boatmates and going over their qualities or lack thereof in his own mind he mentioned Chef, a guy from New Orleans who worked as a saucier, he said he was wound too tight for Vietnam. Hell, Sheen thought, he was probably wound too tight for New Orleans. Maybe that's what we see from Fulop on the big stage that is the whole of New Jersey. Wound too tight. We know he's already secretive when he ran against it, he doesn't like criticism, even fairly done, those people are simply dismissed as those who don't love the city and fail to see the potential. When one perceives the walls of the bower closing in things get strange, and you start winning Dumbest Stunt of the Year Awards.

Late night open thread

Clothes are dry.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Little things often paint a bigger picture

As all our Jersey City Desk readers know, Johnny is not shy at making predictions. If you'll go back and look at his record, sure he'll be the first to blow his own horn, he's often times right. Let's put that to the test once again.

Walking his dog down Bay St. towards the Hudson River (Gotta stop and get a to-go-cup of that Intelligentsia coffee at The Warehouse Cafe) for the second time in two weeks he noticed a chunk of concrete has fallen off the Manischewitz building, protected historically by the city and PADNA. While Toll Brothers who own the property are busy trying to possibly de-bug the new Morgan building (The one a Toll VP said he couldn't defend the look of) and driving piles for their phase two portion at Warren and Morgan, while legally required to save the historic remaining front section, they are doing absolutely nothing to protect something they are required to.

So why must they protect the remaining part of the Manischewitz building? It's part of the Phase three portion of their abatement (heavily abated) which requires a giveback to the city in the form of a downtown theatre between their Morgan building and the Manischewitz building. The very fact Toll has done zero to protect or save the front facade tells us all we need to know. You can't go back and save a crumbled building. Johnny thinks therein lies their plan.

They're not going to build that theater, certainly not as planned. Never on the timetable. This is Toll Brothers people, they have a god-awful record of agreeing to something in writing then running back to city planning for variances that fuck over residents and benefit themselves. Sad part is because they are a big developer for decades Bob Cotter and the slack-jawed yokels at City Planning have simply agreed to whatever builders want.

So, we have a company not known for keeping promises already letting a historically protected building crumble before the city's eyes and and city planning department and a city council willing to cover for the sins of the builders.

So here's the prediction if you haven't caught on: Toll will never build the PADNA giveback theater because they'll say the building they were tasked with saving is beyond saving. They'll claim the money isn't there. They'll say it has to wait. They'll claim the cost of saving the building are too much and they'd simply rather pay their builder friends to build something else and "Jersey City Planning" and the Jersey City council will allow this to happen.

Johnny thinks you can make some good book on this prediction at the Atlantic City casinos.

Manischewitz Building--Jersey City Desk file photo

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Late night open thread

If you're going to quit the Presidential race why not pop your wife in the chops a couple times on the way out the door?

Time for Jersey City,  After Dark

Hamilton truly is a once in a generation play

SIXTEEN Tony nominations this morning, and yes, that sets a record. Lin-Manuel Miranda now owns Broadway. More on all the nominations (there were other plays this year surprisingly, many Johnny saw) at Gothamist.

Monday, May 2, 2016

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Fight on you Foxes! Incredible 5000-1 shot Leicester City wins the Premier League!

Johnny thinks whether or not you follow soccer or even sports for that matter you can probably appreciate the utterly stunning fact that Leicester City, a preseason 5000-1 shot, won the Barclay's Premier League with room to spare after Chelsea scored a late goal costing Tottenham the points needed to stay in the race. This is what your first Premier division title in 132 years looks and sounds like:

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Late night open thread

The Universe may have neither a center nor an edge, because according to Einstein’s theory of relativity, gravity bends all of space time around into an endless curve. Mull that one over trying to fall asleep tonight.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Jersey City, home of dog poop bag flower pots

Just feast your eyes on the uncollected trash in Jersey City as multi-colored dog poop bags and other assorted plastics create a flowerpot looking trash bin. Just gorgeous.

Jersey City, make it yours with dog poop performance art. The city is your canvas.