Washington Square this evening

Governor Christie, looks like you ARE going to pay back the ARC Tunnel money to the Feds

It sure was pretty funny to listen to you bluster (Tell us, can you respond to anything with something OTHER than bluster?) about how you were canceling the ARC Tunnel project AND not going to pay back the $271 million owed the federal government over this. Just about anyone with a functioning brain stem knows that if the feds tell you you're going to pay, you are. See Guv, we commoners know this pretty well around April 15th and as a former federal prosecutor you should know it too.

No, after the bluster Governor Christie hired a law firm, high-priced DC firm Patton Boggs, to tell him he was right. That law firm has cost the taxpayers of New Jersey $800K. Talk about your terrible money after bad.

Wanna know how stupid Christie's position is? Read on citizen:

A federal official involved in the dispute said the state could have offered to repay as little as $1 and the government would have been obligated to negotiate a settlement, a process which could have dragged on for years. All the while, no interest would have accrued on the debt, according to the official, who was not authorized to speak on the record.

Now the feds have spelled it out for Christie so even he can understand, they have ways of garnishing the state's money to pay money owed to the federal government. Just like the IRS would do. It's not that hard of a concept to understand.

"We're not paying". Good one, pull this one, it plays Jingle Bells...

Late night open thread

Did you know Trenton has a law that forbids throwing a bad pickle in the street? You're a better person for knowing it. That very fact may keep you out of jail in Trenton.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS!

Is this a cautionary tale? No. This is however pretty much explaining how and why commercial radio died it's slow lingering death while huge media companies completely tried to squeeze it for every dime all the while wondering why the business model collapsed. Perhaps no artist has had a better truth telling song than this one.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with 'The Last DJ'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with MICHELLE SHOCKED!

Here's a cool and kicky ditty to keep your Friday night hopping. You simply have to adore the background noises worked into this track.

Michelle Shocked with 'When I Grow Up'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with RED RIDER!

Wrapping up the music series tonight with one of those song that would most likely fall into the oldie but goodie category. From 1981 here's Red Rider with 'Lunatic Fringe'.

How about a world premiere video from New Jersey's own Titus Andronicus

The WORLD PREMIERE (yes, really on the Jersey City Desk) of Titus Andronicus -- "No Future Part Three: Escape From No Future"

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Jersey City School board voting results

Along with the school tax levy result below:

School Board results
√ Carol Harrison-Arnold 5,185
√ Suzanne T. Mack* 4,983
√ Marvin Adames 4,312
Frances O. Thompson* 2,407
Vidya Gangadin 1,391
Aury Masa Nunez 1,112
Hiral Patel 965
Amanda Khan 771
Nabil Youssef 465
Jayson H. Burg 381

School Tax Levy: $104,359,519
√ Yes 2,439
No 2,237

Other cities and hamlet results can be found here.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Do NJ.com and or the Jersey Journal have stock in CakeBoss Inc.?

Because it's pretty apparent that one of the news chiefs there can't stand to not run a story on Carlo's Bakery in FuHo almost every single day. Some days it's a poll, other days (multiple days in fact) the Jersey Journal and NJ.com actually run 'news' stories again and again about how long the line is outside Carlo's. Is that REALLY the best use of your news reporters? Seriously, how MANY articles are these outlets going to run on long lines?

A search of their website shows 2790 stories that contain 'Carlo's Bakery'. Two thousand seven hundred ninety mentions on a bakery.

Here are some of the hard hitting stories among the 2790:

*Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken draws one-hour wait
*Customers begin lining up outside Carlo's Bakery of 'Cake Boss' fame as early as 6 a.m.: Hoboken City Clerk
*Tourists flock to the 'Cake Boss' Bakery in Hoboken for Thanksgiving
*Crowds outside of Carlo's Bakery in Hoboken waiting to buy Easter Sunday treats
*'Cake Boss' attracts long lines in even in sweltering weather
*Super long line to get into the 'Cake Boss' shop in Hoboken
*Hundreds line-up for sweets at Carlo's Bake Shop in Hoboken
*'Cake Boss' bakery has long line outside shop today
*Estimated 400 people wait on line for Carlo's City Hall Bake Shop of 'Cake Boss' fame
*Three people faint in Hoboken heat outside Carlo's City Hall Bake Shop
*Business is not booming for all on Carlo's Bakery Way in Hoboken (The lead here? Washington Street between First and Newark streets is a short block in Hoboken, and the line to Carlo's Bakery, located mid-block, stretches out the door, threading up the street and around the corner.)

Hell, even when there is no line that makes news too:
*No line outside 'Cake Boss' bakery in Hoboken brings unexpected joy on Christmas Eve

See a trend? A very troubling trend? Maybe it's not even a trend anymore. Maybe the JJ and NJ.com have simply given up on trying to report real news and this is just EASIER for them. Either way is a sad reflection on both sites as 'news' outlets.

PATH service this morning is all ganked up

After yesterday's smoke issues this morning brings a new rash of problems on the PATH and service as of press time between Hoboken and 33rd St and Journal Square to 33rd St. has been suspended. Hudson County Now reports the issue this morning is signal problems.

Here's to a quick fix...

Late night open thread

Movie mistake night, tonight Ocean's Eleven:

Linus (Matt Damon) and Rusty (Brad Pitt) are standing in the Botanical Garden at the Bellagio going over Linus' observations. Rusty has a cocktail glass of shrimp in hand. When they change angles he has a plate in his hand, then change back, it's a glass.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

A couple shots from around town this morning

Johnny went for a long walk this morning through the Powerhouse Arts District on his way to the river. A lonely powerwasher at 150 Bay St. and the Trump Tower looking like a 1970's instamatic picture...

Late night open thread

All youze gamers and lovers of some incredible American Craft Beer will be happy to know Barcade has opened on Newark Ave. at Barrow St. Johnny stopped in with some friends on Sunday and had a great time. He spent all his quarters on Galaga, just like he did when he was 16. He also has the second highest score on Galaga over at Barcade.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Tow truck companies in Kearny sound a little greedy

Representatives from two towing companies, Moran Towing and Afton Auto , are asking the city there to raise the amount they can charge the owners of the cars they hook.

David Moran of Moran Towing said he is looking for a "modest" increase in towing charges, if by modest you mean roughly an 50% increase. Towing in Kearny now costs between $40-$65 and Moran would like to modestly jump this cost to $100 a tow and $25 for storage. What a leech.

Moran told the governing body that the cost of gas and health insurance had gone up which is why he'd like to see an increase.

Sorry David, the cost of health insurance is YOUR cost of doing business. You're a towing company not a public utility with a corner on the market that regularly gets away with that sort of thing. And here's a question for the towing companies; when gas was cheap did you ask for a REDUCTION in towing costs? It seems to be if you want more money now because of gas costs you'd have dropped your fees when gas was cheap. Yeah, right.

Tow companies, if it were up to us we'd be disinclined to acquiesce to your requests. It just doesn't add up for anybody but yourselves.

Late night open thread

"My mom used to say that Greek Easter was later because then you get stuff cheaper."
-- Amy Sedaris

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Easter in Abingdon Square in Greenwich Village today

Happy Easter from all of us here at the Jersey City Desk

Now Johnny's just gotta find somewhere open this morning with some Easter bacon...

Late night open thread

If today was your birthday you share it with the Bard, William Shakespeare, who would have been 447 today.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

TV Guide, because TV is getting more complicated all the time

That actually used to be a TV ad tag line for TV Guide in the 80's. Uh huh. Like Zagat's but only for your living room.

Anyway here is all you need know today dear readers:
12:00 Penguins vs Lighting
3:00 Rangers vs Crapitals
7:00 Canadiens vs Bruins
10:00 Kings vs Sharks

You've got a mere half hour to make enough sammiches and make a quick bodega run to lay in more chips and Buckhorn beer. Stop reading this crap and get going.

And don't forget the Cheez Whiz boy...

Late night open thread

On this day in history (We're past the witching hour so it's the 23rd) in 1896 the Vitascope system of movie projection was first demonstrated in New York City. No doubt George Burns starred.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE CURE!

Now here's a GREAT remake of one of their own songs 'Lullaby'. It's slow and sexy and slinky and it'll have you grooving in no time.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with PRIMITIVE RADIO GODS!

Extra bonus points if you can tell us with BB King song the band is sampling quite well in this song. A song you just can't forget because it's good and has a very unique name. Here's Primitive Radio Gods with 'Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with MARSHALL CRENSHAW!

What an underrated talent. The original Metro Detroit singer named Marshall with 'Cynical Gir'.

Because of rain this afternoon and evening, the Hoboken Earth Day Tire Fire and B-B-Q has been rescheduled

FuHo will light the tires and stoke the fires tomorrow morning for the third annual Earth Day celebration. Sooty the Clown will be on hand as will all the fun events and food stands you've come to know and tolerate. Last year's tire fire almost set a record by burning until June 2nd.

A good time for a good cause: The Taste of Weehawken

Next Tuesday afternoon at the Food Court at Lincoln Harbor the Taste of Weehawken will take place to raise money for the community:

The tasting raises about $20,000 a year and helps keep the library’s programs afloat. The programs range from computer classes for senior citizens to book readings for toddlers and everything in between.

Over 27 businesses, almost all of them restaurants will be providing top of the line food. Some of the fare includes:

Everything from Italian cuisine to sandwiches to burritos will be available for diners to sample. GP’s will have meatball sliders and Greek salad by chef Manny Nolasco while Paula’s at Rigoletto, on Park Avenue, will have three different types of pasta dishes.

Johnny is very deeply considering this trip. It sounds like a perfect dinner for a perfect cause.

Late night open thread

OK thrillseekers and anyone interested in music and video, take copious notes:

Titus Andronicus Invites The Entire State Of New Jersey To Premiere Its New Video

On Friday April 29th, Titus Andronicus fans all over New Jersey are invited to premiere the band’s new video for the song “No Future Part III: Escape From No Future”, directed by longtime NJ resident and WFMU radio host Tom Scharpling. All Jersey residents, publications, websites, and institutions public or private are invited to simply email titusandronicusvideo@gmail.com, and the band’s label, XL Recordings, will set you up with whatever tool you need: DVD, QuickTime file, embed code – it’s a cinch to participate!

If you’re unfamiliar with Titus Andronicus, here’s a little background: Filled with triumphant rock anthems, aggressive melodies and above all else, brutal honesty, the band has rightfully earned comparisons to such iconoclasts as Bruce Springsteen, and The Replacements. With a grand total of 57 shows lined up for this Spring and Summer that will see them sharing the stage with the likes of Bright Eyes and Okkervil River, Titus Andronicus have distinguished themselves as one of the hardest working bands today. Their last album, The Monitor was released last Spring and made its way onto many year end-lists. Rolling Stone said: "Lyrically, history and modern anxiety morph into freedom songs for an age where, then as now, "the enemy is everywhere," and neither whiskey nor "a pretty good GPA" will save you. But an album this excellent just might."

Titus is inviting everyone that lives in New Jersey to join in the premiere: whether....you have a video store in New Brunswick, you run a poker blog in Atlantic City, you manage a record shop in Princeton, you have a blog about Seaside Heights, you are a Sparta stoner with a sweet new flatscreen, you are a mechanic in Clifton with a video projector and a white wall or you are the Newark Star-Ledger, it's your God-given right, scratch that your RESPONSIBILITY to participate in the premiere of this video. Everyone in the Garden State is welcome to post/host/display the video on the 29th. Everyone else will just have to wait!

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Laurel and Hardy in the famed clip from The Music Box

In living color. Johnny has convinced the staff that putting up color videos is a loss leader but we do it because we care.

Up next the story of cling peaches, in heavy syrup

It's a Super Happy Fun Day here at the Jersey City Desk

It's been months since we've had ourselves an honest to goodness Super Happy Fun Day. So here goes...

Late night open thread

Since Penn Station is downstairs from Madison Square Garden how about you Marian Gaborik just shower, clean out your locker, go downstairs and take a train out of town. Doesn't matter where, just somewhere not here. It's obvious your dumb ass isn't needed by the Rangers anymore. What were you thinking?

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Johnny, anticipating half his readers about now

Enjoy your afternoon citizens

Now here's a pretty amazing list

*1 bag of heroin
*1,673 shotgun shells
*1 kitchen sink
*4 televisions
*5,932 tampon applicators
*1 can of corned beef
*39,029 coffee stirrers

Wondering just what in the Sam Hill this is a list of? It's a list of the oddest things to wash up or found discarded on the Jersey shore. You can find the rest of the list here.

That's it, nobody else from Delaware is allowed on our beaches. Delaware is why we can't have nice things...

Late night open thread

The NFL schedule was released today for next season should it take place at all, but one game of note is the Jets AT the Giants on Christmas Eve which should fall on or around December 24th this year.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

In order to make a sidewalk more handicap accessible, the city rips out wheelchair ramp from restaurant

There you go, that's forward thinking. Somebody at the City offices and or city engineers need to get their heads out of their behinds.

Abbey's Pub and Grill had a wheelchair ramp that their handicapped patrons appreciated. But, in order to make the sidewalk in front of Abbey's more handicap compliant, the city ripped out the wheelchair ramp, you know, like ya do. Abbey's owner Abbey Tarei said the city told him that they would replace his ramp with a new one. That was until they had pulled the wool over his eyes and actually destroyed Abbey's ramp then the city reneged on the promise according to Tarei:

"They said, 'Whatever we take out, we'll put back in."

Yeah, then suddenly the city's position changed and Tarei was on the hook to replace it. Are you ready for a LAME excuse? Here's Jersey City spokesmodel Jennifer Morrill:

"Any ramp entering a building must be ADA-compliant, and apparently what was there previously was not ADA-compliant."

Here's our question Ms. Morrill, how would you know it wasn't compliant? You certainly didn't broach this topic with Mr. Tarei BEFORE you ripped it out and now it'd be kind of hard to tell if it WAS non-complaint because your people destroyed it.

Gotta love how this city with no money can manage stunts like these. Come on Jersey City, do the right thing and replace the ramp YOU tore down, it'd be the right thing to do.

Late night open thread

On this day in history in 1906 the great San Francisco earthquake devastated the city and led to many building code changes for future quakes. It took a lot of time and money to rebuild the city with the quality time and materials now required. So, in order to rebuild the city faster they ignored their own laws.

There you go.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Get ready for the next big hubub across the river, cops as ticket fixers finally facing the music

In what may well explode into a running soap opera, several high ranking as well as beat cops are being investigated in a wide reaching search for ticket malfeasance in the Bronx. Some two dozen officers and superiors are under the gun as it were for either fixing tickets themselves or asking for tickets to go away. The New York Times tells us more:

While the law enforcement official and several lawyers involved in the matter called the wrongdoing relatively minor, the case could have serious implications for the department because of the large number of officers thought to have participated, either by asking for a ticket to be fixed or by doing the actual fixing.

And the accusations will most likely anger countless New Yorkers, some of whom see the specter of quotas behind summonses they receive and whose response to a ticket is generally more straightforward — pay the fine and have points added to their driver’s license.

Damn straight, WE pay while they walk away from financial obligations (and drunk driving arrests and other issues but that's another post for another day). It'll sure set the blood to boiling when you get done reading this fine Monday morning.

Late night open thread

Amazing Rangers effort today at MSG. Just excellent. A late goal by Brandon Dubinsky that kinda hopped up over everyone and in behind the Washington netminder with a minute and a half to play had a pretty big decibel level. The Rangers will look to tie the series Wednesday night.


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

New York Rangers gameday

And the Rangers have a do or die game at 3 pm over at Madison Square Garden which is where Johnny will be bringing you full coverage and some really dodgy cell phone pictures.

The Ragers haven't played badly the first two games in Washington -- they just can't score enough. As was the case in the regular season they get by on full effort spit and vinegar but lack scoring and that was before Ryan Callahan was lost to a broken foot/lower body injury. Game 1 was very winnable going to overtime and the Rangers if they'd have had any kind of offense could have made game 2 interesting. The Crapitals are playing much smarter and doing a LOT more supporting of the puck but the Rangers aren't being rolled by any stretch.

If the Rangers can't win before a raucous home barn it's just not gonna happen. Today is the line in the sand on 7th Avenue.

Late night open thread

"Music is everybody's possession. It's only publishers who think that people own it."
--John Lennon

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Flood warnings, high wind warnings, and lots and lots of rain

You're looking at the best part of the day campers. It gets suckier and suckier all day until we get to 5 pm when the deluge hits. Our fair city may get 2-3 inches of rain in about 4 hours tonight along with the capper to any Jersey City storm, 50 mph wind gusts. Sounds like a good excuse to stay in this evening and watch some NHL playoffs.

From Wunderground:

Coastal Flood Warning in effect from 6 PM this evening to midnight EDT tonight...
Flood Watch in effect from this evening through late tonight...
Wind Advisory in effect from 7 PM this evening to 1 am EDT Sunday...

Hooray. It might be time to sacrifice yet another weatherman or woman into the fires of Mt. Secaucus.

With the weather getting nicer golf is in the air

Now Johnny's not much of a golfer, having golfed only twice in his lifetime. He IS pretty sure however it wouldn't take him a 16 on a par 4 like PROFESSIONAL golfer Kevin Na managed this past week. Yep, a 16. Let's watch and listen in as Kevin plays "I loves me some underbrush".

Late night open thread

Did you know the original name of Pepsi Cola was 'Brad's Drink'? It's a fact...


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with NELLY FURTADO!

Ever look for a song and then you find an amazing live version of it? Oh look, here's one now. Right on time. Funny how that happens. Nelly Furtado singing her hit 'I'm Like a Bird'.

Too many performances like this will get you voted off American Idol island.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE PLIMSOULS!

Johnny was stunned this one had never made it's way into the music series ever. Boy does this song bring back memories of a certain time in life when clean living choirboy Johnny was living large and breaking things with his best friend who shall only be known by the name Agent Paco. You may recognize this song and it's prominent role in the terrific movie Valley Girl.

Totally.

The Plimsouls with 'Million Miles Away'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with GLORIA JONES!

We wrap the music series this week with a song that lot of of people don't know is a cover. Not at least the version they're so familiar with. Soft Cell had a massive hit and were named the top one hit wonder band for their cover of Gloria Jones' song 'Tainted Love'. Either version works just fine on the iPod but Johnny will take a soul song over techno any day.

See now here's something to get excited about on a Friday

The Washington Post has announced the winner of their 2011 Peeps Diorama contest and is also showing the top 37 entries. You have to have a look-see. The whole Peep diorama game just got knocked into the stratosphere...

Know who makes good Peep dioramas? Trixie Action Space Punk

You tell us, what's the best part about Friday?

Sure it means the weekend is nigh but what do you really love about Friday? Johnny loves the fact people seem to be in better moods generally.

Late night open thread

We can add another to the list of certainty. Death, taxes, the sunrise, the sunset and the Bruins losing to the Canadiens.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Jersey City Schools Superintendent Charles T. Epps Jr. wins the 2011 "Verbal Hand Grenade" award

And unlike a real hand grenade that you're supposed to get rid of, Epps Jr. pretty much decided to hold onto this one while he tossed it out:

"Our worst enemy is the young ladies," Epps said. "The young girls are bad. I don't know what they're drinking today, but they're bad."

WOW, just WOW. That's an awesome statement. Thats actually not using PC speak or saying the non-hurtful thing, that's some brass right there. But let's double down on the grenade tossing shall we:

Epps praised staff members of JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs who have volunteered as mentors.

"They've signed up to help even the dirty, nasty, bad kids"

Now all that's left is for Johnny to sit back and let you click on the article and read for yourselves and ply us with comments either in support or outrage of Mr. Epps Jr.

The perfect song for this community outrage this morning, The Flametrick Subs with 'What Makes a Good Girl Go Bad?'

Late night open thread

Well sports fans it was a heartbreaker for the Rangers in Washington tonight. The Crapitalls scored late in the first overtime to win 2-1. In other happier news the Red WIngs absorbed an early Phoenix goal then decided to kick the living bejeesus out of them by scoring the next 4 and winning 4-2. PIttsburgh won, Vancouver is winning as is Nashville at press time.


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

It's here it's here!!

The first day of the Stanley Cup playoffs is finally here!!

Johnny's a little preoccupied with hockey today so he's giving the interns the day off to go spread Red Wings cheer all over the Garden State and NYC today. Don't be hatin'...

Late night open thread

Movie trivia tonight. Name the film.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Mariano Vega sentenced to 30 months in prison -- The usual suspects come to his defense

Sometimes in Jersey City it's just not enough to plead guilty to crimes of confidence. See, like Mariano Vega you can be convicted of a felony, sentenced to 30 months in federal prison (what was it the movie Office Space called those again?) for being on the take from your city job afforded you by the VOTERS and STILL there is the same little cabal of Jersey City elected officials who think you got a raw deal (project much guys?). Here are some of the comments from certain elected officials in our fair city in Vega's sentence with Johnny's commentary after:

"He was a respected man in the community, all the years of service in the community -- I think that should have meant something." -- Peter Brennan (Yeah Peter, it DID mean something, it means he got to hang onto his city council job refusing to give it up even after being indicted. It probably also kept him from a bigger yet still well deserved sentence)

"I just feel badly that he lost judgment on this issue. He's a hard-working family man, and my heart goes out to his family." --Bill Gaughan (If by hard working you mean trying to not get caught taking bribes then yes, he worked very hard)

"We wish him and his family the best and we're hopeful he can now move on with his life in a positive direction" -- Mayor Jerramiah Healy (Yes, we hope he can move on to another community, one he didn't steal from and live out his days not disgracing Jersey City one more day)

Face it, when you're willing to throw everything away for 30K you're nothing but an elected hooker.

Late night open thread

Johnny will have you covered for the Rangers first home playoff game on Sunday. He'll be live at MSG to bring you all the good, the bad and the ugly of game 3 of the Rangers and Capitals series. The Rangers are offensively deficient on a level most playoff teams aren't but it doesn't mean underachievers like the Crap-it-alls can't find way to lose to the Blueshirts. Game 3 will be a wonderful atmosphere.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Former city council president Mariano Vega will be sentenced today

You remember Mariano Vega don't you? He blathered on long and loud about how he was not guilty and of course would be found so in a court of law. He defied the citizens of Jersey City's wishes by refusing to resign or give up power even after being arrested and having the case before him laid out pretty much in public. Mariano said he wasn't going anywhere.

That was then and today is now. Vega pled guilty to the charges he swore were false and today he gets his comeuppance. He faces three years in jail when he goes before the judge today over in Newark.

We're not even sending Mariano a fruit basket...

Late night open thread

“People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.”
--Dave Barry

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

A city view on a Sunday afternoon

The weather gets warmer and the people, they get all angry and stuff

A few reports this week of angry citizens going all Angry Birds on city employees. One choad in Manhattan was arrested after being caught behind a garbage truck and calling a street tough over to beat up the garbage truck driver. Yes, he really called a street tough over to do his bidding. The driver was arrested while police are searching for the street urchin.

A woman in Brooklyn attacked a bus driver after he swerved the bus she was on to avoid hitting and killing a dog. Yep, the woman's time was more important than the dog:

"I stopped—and I prayed to God I didn't hit the dog. And within seconds, this short woman comes up, rips off my badge and punches me in the chest!"

The woman also threatened to have her boyfriend kill the bus driver.

It's spring people, let's get happy, let's slow down. Let's not go to jail.

Late night open thread

Well hot damn, the Rangers got into the playoffs after all. Johnny will get to see live playoff hockey after all. Ain't nothin' better.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Sounds like somebody's giant torpedo ball and flaming bag of truth tour flopped at Radio City last night

Just like in Detroit.

Radio City Music Hall last night played host to that one guy from Two and a Half Men who wears those awful shirts. He was mercilessly booed off the stage. The catcalls started after only 20 minutes. Shame on #WeaselBloodSheen for inciting mouth-breathing crowds in Chicago and Cleveland with vile anti-Detroit chants for having the cojones tell the truth about his assfest show. Looks like the Great White Way thinks you suck too Charlie.

10% of the inductees in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame are from Michigan. When you play in Motown you better bring your A-game cause they know talent. When you play in New York City you better bring your A-game cause if you can make it there you can make it anywhere...

Now, we realize that what passes for good theatre in Chicago and Cleveland is a lower standard than New York and Detroit. Heck 30% of the Cleveland economy was LeBron James and those pee-pants still haven't stopped crying about the loss in King James GDP. Somebody would write a play about it but it would have to open at the Berea Community Playhouse as all the Cleveland theaters are rented for gun and knife shows. Now Chicago did give us live community theater when Mayor Jane Byrne moved into Cabrini Green to show everyone how safe watching reality theater could be. Oh, and that drama at the SMC Cartage Bijou.

Johnny will take Detroit and New York's word on what's good in entertainment any day of the week and on this they agree; #NOTWINNING.

The Long Island serial killer case takes on a new twist

Police now believe that the killer of at least 4 of the victims found dead along Gilgo and Jones Beaches may have some kind of police training or has understanding of police investigative techniques. New York City police investigators say that when the victims' cell phones are turned on and calls made to taunt the victim's families, the calls are made in very crowded pedestrian areas. Times Square and Madison Square Garden were used to make calls so that police couldn't pick out one person using a cell phone from of a crowd when viewing surveillance cameras near when the time of the call was registered.

"“He is a guy who is aware of how we utilize technology,” one investigator said. “Frankly, people are thinking maybe he could be a cop” — either one still in law enforcement or one who has moved on.

“Without question, this guy is smart, this guy is not a dope,” the investigator continued. “It’s a guy who thinks about things.”

Also, the caller kept each of his vulgar, mocking and insulting calls to less than three minutes, according to the dead woman’s mother, Lynn Barthelemy. The caller made about a half-dozen calls over roughly five weeks to the victim’s sister."

Police also say there are some discrepancies from the 4 bodies found late last year vs the latest finds. They won't go into specifics about the differences but said it could either be another killer (very slim chance there) or the differences show a killer honing his craft. The four bodies found in December were wrapped in burlap sacks.

If you have any information on these cases please don't wait for another round of bodies to start turning up. #1 the guy knows police are wise to him so he could easily change his killing grounds to somewhere closer to YOU and #2 these killers who think they are smarter than the police tend to get tripped up by small details that come forth from the public. Even if you think you saw something or heard something you may well have. Do contact authorities.

Late night open thread

Did you know Cher sang backup on the Ronettes' classic 'Be My Baby'? You do now.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with LOU REED!

Shut up and play the tunes night kicks off with Lou Reed. 'Take a Walk on the Wild Side'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with PETER TOSH!

This song is mislabeled mon. Here's the late great Peter Tosh with 'I Chase the Devil'.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with GORILLAZ!

Less chat more music. Gorillaz with 'Glitter Freeze'.

PATH from Newark to World Trade and Journal Square to 33rd delayed

This morning's commute just got a lot longer for many as PATH is running on at least a 10 minute delay this morning. Both routes from NJ into Gotham are affected.

Have a nice morning...

Late night open thread

Pathetic effort from the Broadway Blueshirts tonight over at Madison Square Garden. For a team that was supposedly desperate for points they sure didn't look like it. It's OK though, the fans weren't much better. Johnny walked by in stunned amazement as many fans happily stood in line watching teevee to get $12 corned beef sammiches and some stood around watching the game while eating food and drinking beer they had already bought. That's as sad as losing to the Thrashers 3-0. Seriously, dozens upon dozens in the cramped corridors watching the game on television. A couple weeks back Johnny went to see the Devils play a must win game and they lost 3-0 to Washington. Tonight Johnny went to see the Rangers also in dire need of points and they lost 3-0. The very idea of no playoff hockey in the Tri-State is appalling.

Here are a few snaps from tonight's game all tricked out in that instamatic filter. Don't stare at the flash cube.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Must see: Man on a big wheel races an MTA bus one mile across Manhattan

It's Secretariat and Sham all over again:

Mark Malkoff decided to test it out and he videotaped himself racing a bus, down 42nd St. from 10th to Madison Ave., on a child's Big Wheel.

Oh it's ON

Three jewelry stores on Newark Ave in India Square up to no good

The FBI under the watchful helpful eye of JCPD raided three jewelry stores in India Square yesterday searching for evidence of credit card fraud and money laundering. Ashu Jewelers, Raja Jewelers, and Nikita's Inc. were all raided yesterday morning. Thus far authorities have been tight lipped as to what if any evidence was uncovered during the raids.

Really this is sad news. India Square is a very vibrant and thriving community. Johnny lived inside the boundaries of what is considered India Square for his first year after moving to the Garden State. We'd hate for people to look at these raids and think the restaurants and stores and bakeries along Newark Ave. are nothing but fronts for crime. It's the only 'anchor' neighborhood near Journal Square and that helps meet tax coffers for Jersey City and helps keep street crime in that area down. Until we know what happened in these cases Johnny would urge readers not to rush to judgement on this neighborhood.

Shame on those who may have done wrong here, you stain the very neighborhood you are a part of.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Mr. Man-About-Town Tony Kadyhrob manages to get himself banned from EVERY college campus in New Jersey

Now, why would the powers that be wanna keep Mr. Smooth off campus? It seems he has a problem with trying to lure co-eds into his vehicle. In fact he's charged with criminal luring. According to reports Mr. CrazySexyCool grabbed the arm of a 19 year old woman at Rider Unversity and attempted to pull her into his car. A municipal court judge Tuesday swung the ban hammer hard and told Tony to stay clear of any school property in New Jersey or risk having his bail revoked.

Kadyhrob says the charges and all-campus banning are "A joke". Then he went all Johnny and started talking in the third person:

“I am totally innocent and I have no interest whatsoever in making my face more famous than I already am,” Kadyhrob said. “I’m not intimidating. Tony Kadyhrob is not intimidated by this joke — a little nothing that never occurred — and I will be found innocent without a doubt.”

Once again civics class, you cannot be found innocent, you can only be found not guilty.

So if you see the face below, don't be fooled by the suave looks and the overdose of Just for Men mustache coloring, It's possible Tony wants to take you for a ride to Nowheresville.

Late night open thread

If today is your birthday you share it with English philosopher Thomas Hobbes who was born in 1588.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The giant cat head from outer space is back and doing damage in Hoboken

Several Fuho residents were awakened early this morning (Johnny's police radio was cracklin at 3 AM) as the famed giant cat head was zapping garbage cans and backyard swingsets in the area near Columbus Park around 9th and Willow. There is nothing yet from Hoboken PD on the property destruction but Johnny did hear one panicked police officer on the radio when faced with the giant cat head yell into his radio "He's bringing down swingsets, our weapons are useless!"

We tried warning everyone when we moved out this far east and giant cat head attacks came closer to us but nobody lifted a finger. Homeland Security? Nothing. Port Authority? Nothing. Local PD's? Nothing.

Every day this cat head is allowed to exist is another day closer to it killing a citizen.
FILE FOOTAGE

Late night open thread

Boy did the Rangers get a huge win tonight over at MSG over Boston to push them up in the Eastern Conference standings. With a win Thursday at home against Atlanta they'll clinch a spot in the playoffs.

Show Johnny out at MSG Thursday night...

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Stay the hell away from Kearny and pray the wind changes

BREAKING NEWS: 5 train cars carrying chemicals have derailed in Kearny near the Kuehne Chemical facility. Check out the Jersey Journal for updates.

OK, cold case crackers and crime stoppers, let's look at the Long Island cases -- UPDATED 7:39 PM

Without going into a long detailed rehash of the body dumping ground Jones Beach on Long Island has become Johnny wanted to ask you all for your thoughts and opinions.

Johnny loves working on cold cases and has been asked to assist on a couple in the past. Now we know police have found five bodies while searching for missing Jersey City resident Shannan Gilbert who hasn't been found. Gilbert had arranged a date with a man on Craigslist last year and hasn't been seen since possibly ducking into some tall grass to avoid being seen, possibly by police.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Richard Dormer has pretty much said police are looking for a serial killer and there is a Craigslist link so readers, what are your thoughts, your opinions or your clues?

UPDATE: Search teams found 3 more bodies today near where they found the others. They were wrapped in burlap bags. No word on if Jersey City's Shannan Gilbert was one of those found. This brings the total to 8 bodies found along that stretch of Jones Beach.

Late night open thread

65º wondrous degrees tomorrow thrillseekers. Of course it'll be rainy but again, 65º wondrous degrees.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Anybody got 5,000 old Metro Cards lying around?

If so you too can make furniture, good strong furniture out of them...

Click here to see how.

Easy like Sunday morning...

The Lens Blog at the NYT from time to time has some don't miss stuff. To that end on Friday they ran a piece on window washing around town. Big buildings, little buildings, and some innovative and enterprising glass cleaners can be found by clicking on the link here.

It's poignant, it's quick and it'll get you outside into the spring weather we're enjoying today.

Late night open thread

Movie quotes night:

Groucho: "Get outta here before I get arrested."

Chico: "Nah, I'd like to stay and see that."
--A Night at the Opera

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Just a random shot on a pretty Saturday afternoon

Taking the MTA subway this weekend? Leave time

Hoooo boy the subway is gonna be a mess this weekend as 14 of the 24 lines are being worked on and will have some kind of stoppage/delay/skipped stops this weekend. Work affecting the 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, A, C, D, F, G, J, Q, and S trains will slow down riders. Of course, Johnny has a leisurely afternoon planned in Gotham so this'll be just ducky.

For the full list you can check the MTA website here.

Good luck.

Late night open thread

State trivia night:

This state hosted the first collegiate college basketball game in 1895.

Answer here.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with NEW ORDER!

We'll kick off the music series this week with one of those underrated gems in an artist's catalog that sometimes gets lost in the airplay. 'Everything's Gone Green' by New Order is such a song.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND!

Johnny has been really listening closely to this song for the past few days. Yes it's magnificent in and of itself but it does rather mirror a chapter in Johnny's life in studying it.

We're pulling out of here to win...

Bruce and the E Street Band with 'Thunder Road'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with SCREAMING JAY HAWKINS!

A little bit of April Tom Foolery as we wrap up the music series this week. Here's Screaming Jay Hawkins with 'You Put a Spell on Me'.

It seems Johnny perfected April Fools Day back in 2008

Johnny was gonna hit you with a big involved April Fools Day joke (To which you'd reply Johnny, isn't this entire website some kind of Fools joke -- and you'd be right) but in checking back to his old Ypsi City Desk days, he perfected the April Fools Day gag back then.

Background for Jersey and Gotham readers, John Norman Collins was a serial killer in the late 1960's in Ypsilanti and Ann Arbor Michigan. On April Fools Day 2008 Johnny ran a post saying Collins had escaped from the maximum security lock up in Marquette Michigan. Over time this thread apparently set off some kind of flame war in comments long after Johnny stopped reading them. We mean a firestorm that has somehow led to this:

*If you Google John Norman Collins the Ypsi City Desk post is like 6th on the list (Very flattering).
*At the bottom of said Google search there is now a quick search option for 'John Norman Collins escape'.
*Answers.com actually links to the Ypsi City Desk post and we quote: "He is still running from the authorities. In the link retaled links box below I posted a site with the information. (Again, very flattering)

So, Johnny broke the internets a while back. All hail Johnny!