Late night open thread

Per Johnny's cryptic message earlier, he is going to be closing up shop at the Jersey City Desk offices for a week or so as he travels back to Michigan for a once in a lifetime event. Mrs. Johnny's grandpa turns 100 this upcoming week and those are the events in life you simply get excited to attend. A fine party it will be. He's in exceptional mental health for someone turning 100 so it promises to be a great time.

So we'll see you back here in a week or so. Be well Jersey City.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Johnny's own internal investigation has cleared him

So a couple of Johnny's friends looked into whether or not Johnny was a jackass and they found he's not so there you have it. Johnny feels exhonorated of course and will get right back to being a jackass when he gets back (more on that tonight).

Johnny's friends also found everything was Bridget Kelly's fault.

Late night open thread

Well look at it out there. Would you have wanted to go into YOUR office if you didn't have to today? Exactly.

Time for Jersey, City After Dark

Late night open thread

Heinz Ketchup leaves the bottle traveling at 25 miles PER YEAR. Another reason you don't put it on hot dogs...ever.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with JOHN MELLENCAMP!

You're luck you're not getting four different versions of the Michigan State fight song tonight after seeing Sparty knock off #1 Virginia over at MSG.

Johnny has always very much enjoyed the wit and charm in this song, 'Key West Intermezzo (I Saw You First)' by John Mellencamp. Sharp writing and a catchy number. We hope you'll enjoy it as much as Johnny enjoys bringing it to you.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with AEROSMITH

A lot of kids come up and ask Johnny what radio was like when he was growing up. Johnny always has the same pat answer for each one, "Shut up kid."

Completely unrelated to that question here is Aerosmith with 'Back in the Saddle'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with GUSTER!

In closing tonight a wonderful song that kinda sorta picks you up and brings you along with it and by the end you're ready to hear it again.

Guster with 'Careful'

Call it what you will; karma, comeuppance, what goes around comes around...

...life just never seems to give that instant feedback unlike movies and TV. Like in this instance we're gonna share. If you drive you've most likely been tailgated or had someone flash their brights or in general get behind you and behave like a buttdumpling. As they inevitably roar past they may honk their horn or try and make eye contact and give you a one digit salute. Everyone that has had that happen then says the same thing, 'I hope that idiot gets in an accident driving like that."

Johnny happily presents Instant Karma Theatre, today from Florida where one "Florida Driver" captured this magical moment (with Director commentary) sure to put a smile on your face:

This happened to me on SR 41 in Tampa on Monday March 24th. This pathetic excuse for a human being tailgated me for about three minutes. After about a minute, and me shaking my head, I pulled out my phone and started recording. I couldn't move over because there were trucks in the right lane, and I sure as heck wasn't going to speed on a rainy day with the roads being as slick as they were. I was turning left in about a half-mile when this happened. Now bear in mind, that this guy had already passed a truck in a left turn lane, was tailgating and driving recklessly on a wet slick road, wasn't paying attention, and all in all being an ignorant ass...

Late night open thread

The Jersey City Desk traffic copter got blown a little off course yesterday and is now bringing us some great high definition video of the traffic on Lakeshore Drive in Chicago tonight. Enjoy it, with the tax write-off we get from airing the clip it might pay for the traffic copter crew's train tickets home.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

In praise of Candice Osborne

No, not for her capitulation and then really awful comments on why the city should save the red-light cameras, but for the work she has done and is doing to help Jersey City get across the damned Hudson River on weekends, Port Authority be damned. Osborne as you have read in this space has been trying to get reduced prices on ferry rides across the Hudson to the WFC and has succeeded. She sent out this email and since it is important and it IS time for you citizen, if you've been complaining, to get on a ferry and go, we're going to reprint it:

Take the ferry to WFC this weekend - and next!

Pilot program offering ferry tickets from Paulus Hook to WFC for only $2.50 each way

The PATH isn't running to World Financial Center on weekends, but the Port Authority has teamed up with NY Waterway to help out. NY Waterway is now offering discounted ferry tickets on weekends only, as part of a 6 week trial program.

Use-it-or-lose-it

We’ve all been asking for it, now let’s use it! If we don’t get the word out and actually use this service, it will most likely not continue. Please spread the word to everyone you know who may need this service.

Let's show them how important this service is to us!

Help get the word out

Share this message with all your Jersey City friends!

Don't forget, the light rail in Jersey City is still cross-honoring PATH tickets on weekends. And I will continue to work on more measures to help during the PATH to WFC shutdown this year. 

Great work on this councilwoman. As someone with very strong opinions Johnny knows we're not always going to agree. In this case you have gone above and beyond serving your constituents and the city. If you'd like more info from Councilwoman Osborne just click here.

Late night open thread

Karl Marx was once a correspondent for the New York Daily Tribune.

It's a FACT!


Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Mayor Fulop's failed leadership on red-light cameras is beyond maddening

First things first. Johnny called mayoral candidate Steve Fulop's office at least five times asking where the mayoral candidate stood on these invasive cameras. Candidate Fulop returned ZERO phone calls. ZERO.

Classy huh?

Well Fulop continues to hide from the issue. Ward C Councilman Rich Boggiano brought up the idea to get rid of ALL the red-light cameras not just the one mandated to be removed because of the closing of the Pulasi Skyway. 

Rich Boggiano, a retired police detective who represents Ward C on the nine-member body, said the controversial red-light cameras, which have been installed at about a dozen locations and bring in about $2.7 million in revenue annually, are an invasion of privacy.

“If you want to have traffic enforcement, bring back the cops, bring back police,” Boggiano told The Jersey Journal.

Boggiano is right, the police should be handing out tickets. The city council agreed with Boggiano giving him near unanimous support at the last council meeting. But these council members turned tail and went back to Steve Fulop who somehow must have got the party line the council members that the city wants the filthy lucre raised by the cameras. Why else would they change their minds? It's so bad councilman-at-large Daniel Rivera is trying to delay Boggiano's vote and throw cover for Fulop.

Let's be clear Mayor, FACTS show these cameras CAUSE more accidents than they stop. Accident rates around these cameras are UP. So if and when you ever decide to take a stand on something as simple as traffic cams, and that shouldn't be too hard for a Marine, do not tell us you want them for safety. Come right out and say you and your supporters on the city council not named Rich Boggiano are addicted to the revenue, a huge chunk of which the city doesn't even see because it goes to a company at this point doing zero to earn it, they simply install cameras and the checks with taxpayer money roll in. Come on mayor, it's been years, tell us your position, stop hiding on it.

And for fun, if and when you DO ever come out and support the cameras, Johnny hereby challenges you to a debate in front of City Hall. You Mr. Mayor can support former Mayor Healy's position and Johnny will show up with books of facts on how red-light cameras make intersections more dangerous.

You have been challenged.

Late night open thread

I saw this dude, he was wearing a leather jacket, and at the same time he was eating a hamburger and drinking a glass of milk. I said to him "Dude, you're a cow. The metamorphosis is complete. Don't fall asleep or I'll tip you over."
 -- Mitch Hedberg

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

WOW, just WOW

The World Trade Center seems to be having self-guided tours to the top of the new WTC anymore, just sneak in through a hole in the fence and enjoy your day, or in this case, your evening.

Three guys clambered up top in September and they had GoPro cameras and they B.A.S.E. jumped OFF the WTC! A MUST see video if ever there was one. Some rough language means headphones for work.

Late night open thread

Close your eyes and that way you won't have to look at the horrible awful cheap toy mom bought you to get you to shut up at Sears. Hours of fun if you hate balloons and high electric bills.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Big snow storm coming? Nah, just an inch or two

The big nor' easter heading up the eastern seaboard tomorrow did have the potential to drop a stunning amount of snow on us but luckily it'll just be two inches maybe with some of those howling winds. In the meantime how about we enjoy a beach scene together?

Late night open thread

Where was Johnny and the staff all day? Good question. Johnny will ask them tomorrow but Johnny spent a perfectly good day indoors watching sports. Sometimes that's just what a guy's gotta do. NCAA basketball game? Check. An El Clasico between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid that more than lived up to it's name (And Ronaldo's crybaby tears after Barca won were so very very nourishing). Check. A Sunday night Red Wings game. Check.

If the hardest thing you did all day was walk the dog, well, sometimes those are great days indeed.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Late night open thread

Johnny would like to welcome his Michigan State Spartans to MSG next weekend for the next rounds of the NCAA tournament for what will hopefully turn into a successful Sparty Garden Party.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

When the Easter candy hits the shelves the Bible says you have to buy some

Well the Bible only specifies ONE type of candy be eaten:

"In peace shall ye celebrate me, now go forth and eatest thou Peeps." Luke 27:12

Technically only yellow Peeps are acceptable:

"Eateth not blue nor purple nor pink..." Luke 27:13

So the Peeps are on the shelves now, do not anger your Lord thy God, go make with the marshmallowy goodness!!

Sometimes buildings just name themselves

Johnny has the eyes of a hawk and the ears of a fox -- luckily that was fixed with surgery when he was young -- but he still has a very keen sense of sight.

Johnny saw a dumpster a couple floors north of ten hanging out of one of the new towers going up at 70-90 Columbus downtown. But wait, what's that? The spray paint, it has a message for all and perhaps a very unfortunate new name for the buildings there. If you can't see it right off just click on the image for a very big one and it'll become crystal clear why Jersey City will be calling the 70-90 Columbus site the __ _____ Building.

Late night open thread

Q: How can you tell there's an Allosaurus in your bed?
A: By the bright red "A" on its pajamas, duh.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with DUSTY SPRINGFIELD!

This song, 'Son of a Preacherman' was recorded in what year?

A) 1966
B) 1970
C) 1968

The answer is C because the answer is ALWAYS C.

No, Always.

Dusty Springfield with the aforementioned 'Son of a Preacherman' and enjoy this pitch-perfect version because there are plenty of horrid covers of this song on the YouTube to go around.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with ERIC CLAPTON!

Johnny remembers one Christmas his aunt got his sister the Slowhand album by Eric Clapton. The album wasn't so much coveted as it was stolen outright. She'd never be able to appreciate it the way a music savant would. Besides, Johnny's sister played piano, not guitar. That's some good justifying, right there.

Eric Clapton with "Lay Down Sally'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with TALKING HEADS!

If there is some kind of afterlife and one is entitled to a creature comfort such as a playlist on a godless machine from our mortal days this song is on it. Talking Heads with 'Girlfriend is Better'

"Nothing is better than this...or is it?"

See Spot Rescued is holding another adoption event tomorrow!

See Spot Rescued is holding a pup adoption event tomorrow at K9dergarten at 173 Newark Ave. from 1-4. Please come on by and look at the wonderful dogs and maybe, just maybe you can make a forever home for one of these phenomenal animals!

A couple events around town this weekend you won't want to miss

First off, starting tonight Lowe's Theater has a magnificent weekend of entertainment planned. Beginning tonight STAGEFest will bring over forty acts and performances:

Among tonight’s performances are “Sleep at Your Own Risk” by Ticket 2 Eternity Productions. The 45-minute one-man show, written by Matthew Ethan Davis, kicks off at 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. It tells the story of a man’s struggle with sleepwalking while trying to hold onto the love of his life ­-- and not walk out of his apartment naked.

Want more? Good, they have much more entertainment for you:

Tomorrow is a bigger day, with 19 performances lined up. The acts include “Three Bites” by 68 Productions, showing at 3:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The 40-minute show follows the rise and fall of a relationship over the course of three meals: the first coffee date, a pivotal breakfast and a fateful dinner. The couple will be played by Rafael Cruz and Summer Dawn Hortillosa, who also wrote the play. Liliane Wolf plays the waitress.

There will be food, a chance to learn about costuming with some right fine historic costumes and much much more.

Advance tickets can be purchased at loewsstagefest.brownpapertickets.com. For more information, visit loewsjersey.org/stagefest, email stage.fest.loews@gmail.com or call 201-668-0546. Discount parking will be available behind the theater in Square Ramp Garage.

Now, if you're in a more colorful mood tomorrow morning make SURE to head to Owen Grundy Pier down on the waterfront for the Indian celebration of Holi Hai (yes, the colored powder thrown around all so cooly) will take place from 11am to 6pm with a rain date for Sunday. 

We've all seen the cool images of people covered in the colored powder but what is Holi Hai itself? Glad you asked:

Holi Hai– also referred to as the festival of love –is an annual ritualistic celebration, emerging from the Hindu culture in India, which celebrates life, rebirth and love.

For a whole day – generally on the last day of winter -- revelers enjoy delicacies, dance and play as they smear one another with plates of colored powder.

Be there or be square!

Late night open thread

Most people, if polled, have a favorite color. Do you know what the most common favorite color is? What about the second common favorite? The the answer to the first may not surprise you the second most likely will. Answers in comments.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

We have to think the pros outweighed the legal cons on this one

Justin Casquejo, you rock man! Justin, for those of you unfamiliar with this area's newest folk hero beat the NYPD, the Port Authority rental cops, and two security companies on his trip Sunday up to the top of the spire on the new World Trade Center to you know, just snap some pictures and hang out. Just how did he do it? Read on:

Casquejo allegedly found an opening in the barbed-wire fence that rings the heavily guarded site and then wasn't questioned by a union elevator operator on a 4 a.m. ride to the 88th floor.

Casquejo next walked up a set of stairs to the 104th floor, where he encountered a sleeping security guard..."

There's much more on Justin's trip to the top of the WTC, all which you can find by following this link.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The brackets have been filled out as we await the best four days of sports!

Johnny feels very good about his brackets. Very strong picks. There could well be some of life's rich reward awaiting after all is said and done. How are YOUR brackets shaping up friends?

Late night open thread

In 1895 there were a total of two cars in the state of Ohio. They crashed into each other. True story. If you've driven in Ohio as much as Johnny has this does not so much surprise you as confirm string theory on the horridity of Ohio drivers.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

We hate doing this but Free Day!

Dammit, we'd rather be engaging you, the reader. Sometimes life does intrude on our good times. See ya back here tonight.

Late night open thread

On more pint before we go, shall we? The Dubliners and The Pogues just like we do every year with 'The Irish Rover'

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

More of that fantastic traditional music, this time from The Fiddlestone Bar in Belleek, Co. Fermanagh

Wonderful! Do they do this at your favorite bar?

The sights and very musical sounds of Brogan's Bar in Ennis Ireland

It doesn't get any more real or traditional than this. Enjoy this traditional Irish music after a few pints of Guinness. Or during. Or before.

Who was in charge of the geese? You had ONE job! Keep the geese out of the bog

Well now that they're in the bog screw it, let's do an Irish jig this morning, uncredited, just know you're dancing around to the 'Geese in the Bog/The Wind That Shakes the Barley'.

St. Patrick's Day 2014 dawns cold and windy; Stick and stay for some hot Irish music!

We'll kick off St. Patrick's Day 2014 with Sinead O'Connor and The Chieftains with a classic Irish song, 'The Foggy Dew'

Late night open thread

Make sure to come by tomorrow as Johnny gives tips on filling out a strong NCAA bracket. Here's one satisfied fan from last year who picked Michigan, Louisville, Wichita State and Jaegermeister in her Final Four:

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Mayor Steve Fulop's great transparency government is a little rough around the edges.

In yet another tip top article by the Jersey Journal's Terrence T. McDonald, Mayor Steve Fulop's datebook was full of redactions when requested by the media. Fulop's spokespeople say it's to protect private citizens but it that fully true? Some redactions shouldn't have been and yet other redactions have met with redactions. The group Civic JC, a group that worked with then Councilman Fulop on the city's first pay to play legislation feels the mayor's excuses are just that:

Aaron Morrill, an attorney, argues that Jersey City is within its rights to redact meetings that helped shape public policy, but not meetings with, say, private citizens seeking to do business with Jersey City.

“Jersey City residents should have some idea of what their mayor does during the day, what issues he is working on and who he is meeting with,” Morrill said. “We expected more transparency from the mayor.”

Disappointing on many levels for someone who went out of his way to ride former mayor Healy over open government and trumpet how important a transparent government would be under his stewardship. What we're hearing from the mayor's office is he will continue doing just enough to meet the minimum requirements.

That should be as clear and transparent as mud.

Late night open thread

For 20 points and control of the board, what movie is this animated gif from? Answer in comments.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

A piece of movie history awaits you for the very low price of free

You've long heard the story that there were six pairs of ruby slippers used in the Wizard of Oz movie. Some are missing, one is on display and the others owned privately. But here is another piece of movie history, yours for the taking at Bay St. and Grove:

Three copier/fax machines were used in the movie Office Space. The famous one that was destroyed in a field by the protagonists, one that movie director Mike Judge kept and this one. So step right on up and go grab a piece of cinematic history. Send us the video if you decide to batter this one too.

Late night open thread

Only one state in the US of A grows coffee. Only one. Which is it? Answer here.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE FLIRTS!

We're going with the video version of this song made famous as part of the bountiful Valley Girl soundtrack because it's so incredibly horrible. Sing the word shattered and a glass with ice cubes and water is filmed hitting the floor. Also it appears part of this video deals with a guy being seen in a pizza place without his girlfriend who it turns out runs with a small pack of prostitute refugees from Pat Benatar's 'Love is a Battlefield' video who then steal his records, sell them to a local record store to make money for tight skirts, bright sweaters and drums full of White Rain hairspray.

We're not laughing with The Flirts on 'Jukebox (Don't Put Another Dime)' we're laughing at them.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE ROLLING STONES!

Johnny wanted to hear something nasty tonight. Something with a snarl and bite. Luckily for all of us this song exists. The Rolling Stones with 'Can't You Hear Me Knocking',

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE J.B.'S!

Ah, the crackle of real vinyl playing us off tonight. A funk overdose awaits with The J.B.'s and 'The Grunt (Part 1)'. If you can't move to this, you're pretty much dead.

Late night open thread

Johnny's fine, thanks for asking.  Rutgers managed to lose in the AAC Tournament tonight to Louisville 92-31. You read that correctly. It was so bad at halftime ESPN's Twitter feed pointed out that Louisville 58 Rutgers 16 was a real score. Someone should tell dear old Rutgers you're allowed upwards of five players on the court at once. Well they'll certainly find out next year when they get fed a steady diet of this in the B1G if they don't:

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

It's a Jersey City Desk free day!

Johnny's got a couple doctor appointments then a dreaded "procedure" today so you're on your own. We trust you can keep out of trouble.

Late night open thread

It's writing like this that makes Johnny just want to up and quit the blogging biz:

“The unwelcome November rain had perversely stolen the day's last hour and pawned it with that ancient fence, the night.”
 -- F. Scott Fitzgerald, This Side of Paradise

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Happy Birthday internet!

The internet, the very thing that allows this webpage you're currently enjoying/rueing/loathing turns 25 today. Here are a couple articles to help catch you up on everything that has happened lo these last 25 years and some pretty bold and pretty wrong predictions about what the web would be come.

Johnny thinks the internet peaked with this:

Late night open thread

Tonight on the late show:

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Time to chip the remaining snowdrifts from around your cars, alternate side parking is back!

Thursday Thursday Thursday. There, now don't say you weren't warned. Jersey City is returning to issuing tickets for alternate side parking violations coming up this ________________. You should be able to fill that one in.

Late night open thre

Meanwhile, in Berwyn Illinois...

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Jersey City reveals their plan for when the Pulaski Skyway goes bye bye

Jersey City has a very extensive plan for traffic patterns, the motorists who use them, and those about to be caught up in one hell of a mess. The Pulaski Skyway will close to northbound traffic Saturday April 12th. 3,500 people use the northbound lane an hour. Therein lies the mess. It's been well lamented by so many.

But, what we hadn't heard was Jersey City's plan for dealing with the shutdown. We know it now. The city is planning on putting FIFTY ONE off-duty police officers around the expected pinch-points and direct traffic at streets that will be closed to certain turns. What's that? You didn't know left hand turns are going to be banned in certain places at certain times? Right hand turns in some place too. For example:

Traffic headed east on Communipaw Avenue will not be able to make any turns, left or right, onto West Side Avenue or Bergen Avenue.

The hours of the new bans on rights and lefts will be from 6-10am only (at this time). 

Confused? Wondering which streets will have limited access? Then you need this handy article by Terrence T. McDonald at the Jersey Journal.

Late night open thread

Tonight click here and be connected to 2XS out of Dublin Ireland, then click the 'Turn Us On' button. Radio til dawn on this internet radio outpost.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Sunday afternoon vacation slides with Johnny!

No no, sit the hell down and be nice. It's vacation slide time, and who doesn't love wasting a Sunday doing that?

OK, so here's Johnny's passing into Virginia from Tennessee last fall. Beautiful day. Rained all the way to Bethlehem Pennsylvania.

Now here's a great one. This is when Johnny was in Hoboken after Superstorm Sandy so enjoy.

This place used to be known as Gay Head on Martha's Vineyard but now it's not. Whaaaaat?

Sit down and be polite. We're not done.

This is the giant light up cross over Ocean Grove NJ at night. It's kinda like a Christian Eye of Sauron but when you say that people get upset.

Hey foodies, how about some food pr0n? This isn't just french toast, oh hellz no. It's Cap'n Crunch dipped/crusted french toast available only at The Bomber restaurant in Ypsilanti Michigan.

This is a house where probably a witch lives or lived in or yelled at a scarecrow from her roof at some point. It's in Candler NC.

We're almost done. Sit down.

This is a hockey game at Northeastern University in downtown Boston. The males of the species there don't wear shirts.....during the game.

And FINALLY....Damn right you get your hamburgers from the sign of the donkey. Why wouldn't you? Buster the Donkey says that's a tasty burger at Bray's in Westland Michigan.

Late night open thread

If you want to give up the admiration of thousands of men for the distain of one, go ahead, get married.
 -- Katharine Hepburn

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

More proof you can find beauty in the most common things

Johnny was out with the dire wolf this morning as always and saw something very beautiful. See if you can guess what this is a picture of and Johnny will tell you the definitive answer in comments.

Late night open thread

"Anytime four New Yorkers get into a cab together without arguing, a bank robbery has just taken place."
 -- Henny Youngman

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with BARRY WHITE!

Ah yes the Walrus of Love, Barry White. Did you know that if South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker couldn't have secured the services of Isaac Hayes for the voice of Chef they were going to ask Barry White next? You do now...

Here's Barry White with 'Standing in the Shadows of Love'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with VAN MCCOY!

Yes Van McCoy, we'll get to that but right now move your chairs and ottomans and what not to the outside of the room. That's it, get those dining room chairs out of the way. Move the Swiffer. Ready to get your swerve on? Grab the kids, grab some friends, dancing is a social activity but there's no problem if you just wanna pull the blinds and go nuts.

Van McCoy with the song that taught white America how to dance in the 1970's; instead of looking like roach stomping Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots, they learned to do 'The Hustle'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE YARDBIRDS!

And unlike most real yardbirds Jeff Beck never took a crap on Johnny's car. The Yardbirds closing up shop on the Music Series this week with 'Over Under Sideways Down' from the Roger the Engineer album.

Capt. Gregory Barnas, we salute your service to our city and our citizens

Jersey City Fire Captain Gregory Barnas was one of the guys who answered the midnight call. When everything has gone to hell and you need the JCFD you had the comfort of knowing a firefighter like Barnas was on his way. The Jersey Journal explains the accident that took him from us:

Barnas, 57, a 29-year veteran with the Jersey City Fire Department and a longtime volunteer with the Wallington Fire Department, died last Friday when he fell from the roof of the Alaska Japanese Restaurant on Paterson Avenue in Wallington. He was venting the roof to help put out the fire at the establishment.

Thank you Captain Barnas. Thank you for your selfless 29 years of service answering that midnight call. Best thoughts of comfort to the Barnas family, two of which are firefighters themselves.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Our good friends at at the Mile Square View sure busted Beth Mason in Hoboken!

Uncovering over 300 incidents of campaign violations, and now Mason is facing up to $2.6 million in fines. Oh that's juicy as the Hoboken gadfly gets hers. The MSV tells us:

Yesterday's breaking story on Beth Mason's campaign violation turns out to be only the tip of the iceberg. Media reports initially limited the Mason family mess to the 2011 Beth Mason for council campaign but as it turns out more violations come from the 2009 Beth Mason for Mayor campaign.

Among those featured in the violations are Beth Mason's husband, Richard Mason of Wachtell, Lipton,  Rosen & Katz and long time Masonista political operative Ines Garcia Keim, both listed as Treasurers.

So get over there and get the rest of the campaign finance sleazery with this handy dandy link and support the Mile Square View!

Johnny's going to take a moment and pay tribute to one of the truly great hockey players

Nothing to do with the Devils or Rangers, sorry, Johnny's an unapologetic Red Wings fan. Tonight Red Wing fans are going to do what we do best, celebrate our own greatness as a franchise. The number 5 will retire to the rafters in the cathedral of hockey tonight, Joe Louis Arena. Nicklas Lidstrom, the Perfect Human, St. Nick, or however you know him will receive the ultimate sports honor tonight in Detroit. His number 5 will be retired in a ceremony beginning at 6:30 pm (NBCSports Network and NHL Network) and will join such legends as Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay, Sid Abel, Terry Sawchuk, Alex Delvecchio and Steve Yzerman. Johnny could start some mess with Bruins fans and come right out and say Lidstrom was simply THE best defenseman ever to play in the NHL and there are quite a few numbers that would back that up. For now we'll just say that NHL fans now have their top all-time defense pairing set with Bobby Orr and Lidstrom.

So a heartfelt THANK YOU to St. Nick from a Red Wings fan. You have played with great distinction, honor, and pride. Steve Yzerman said you were the best played he'd ever had the chance to play with. High honors indeed. Now enjoy your evening and your hockey immortality.

Here now every playoff goal by Lidstrom is all his Stanley Cup winning seasons with the Wings, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2008.

Late night open thread

It would appear Hong Kong could use a pop-up blocker.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Wanderlust, Johnny's got it

Let's face it, this winter by any standards has been awful. Walking the dire wolf this morning Johnny saw this sign for the New Jersey Turnpike and instantly began thinking of where a car could take him, somewhere, anywhere away from this weather.

So, here's our charge to you dear readers, if you were to go get ANY Car or truck you wanted for the drive, WHERE would you go for let's say 5 days. Gas money is no issue, work is no issue, kids no issue. Which car are to using and where are you going?

Late night open thread

Ah the classics, to end our Mardi Gras (which technically ended fifteen minutes ago but we have time for one more) the classic Jolie Blon which for Johnny's money is one of the bestest song ever in any genre, this time done by Harry Choates.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Lunchtime zydeco, we provide the music you provide the jambalaya

Or Lunchable or a PBJ or a can of soup. Whatever is for lunch it'll go better with Jeffrey Broussard & the Creole Cowboys and 'Zydeco a Pas Sale'

How about some more of that GENUINE Cajun music...

'The Kaplan Waltz' with Nathan Abshire and the Balfa Brothers.

We're devoting the rest of the day to Mardi Gras and that GREAT Cajun music!

It is Mardi Gras on the streets of New Orleans which means here on the frozen streets of Jersey City, Hoboken, and New York City we can warm up with some of that great Cajun music.

The best to our long lost New Orleans correspondent Ms. Oddzymandias, this one's for you sweetie. The Balfa Brothers with 'The Acadian Two-Step'

Jersey City vs Newark, who will be the biggest city in 2016?

In his state of the city address Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop said without a doubt that by 2016 Jersey City would be bigger (ie more residents) than Newark. Fulop said with no hesitation that Jersey City was set to become the biggest city in New Jersey.

But is it?

Sure, Jersey City has a better reputation among those who live in the tri-state and perhaps nationally as Newark enjoys, well, less than a stellar reputation. Granted that reputation came back a bit while Cory Booker was mayor and had plenty of good acts and great stories to tell and the population grew every so slightly but Jersey City has a shine Newark doesn't.

Many experts polled on Fulop's claim weren't so sure this changing of the biggest city guard would happen by 2016, some saying not until 2035

*The data indicate that despite Jersey City’s higher growth rate, Newark will continue to stay ahead of its neighbor for some time.

*"The household sizes in Jersey City tend to be smaller," Diogo said.
*"A lot of apartment complexes are going up. They’re attracting a lot more singles and couples. Newark has a lot more families. We haven’t forecast a change in that."
*Newark also has a lot more room — roughly 24 square miles to Jersey City’s 14.7.
*According to North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority forecasts, by 2020 Newark will have about 303,000 residents to Jersey City’s 280,000.

However, Jersey City as the studies say, has a more affluent and better educated citizenship, something newcomers to the area might require:

Only 12.5 percent of Newark residents have a college or advanced degree compared with 41.5 percent in Jersey City. Roughly 52 percent of Jersey City residents speak a language other than English at home, compared with 45 percent in Newark. The median household income in Jersey City is $58,000. In Newark, it’s $34,000.

Lots more stats and reasons why Newark will continue to lead New Jersey in population at least for another decade can be found by clicking here.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

So Freeholder Jeffrey Dublin followed Johnny on the Twitter, for about an hour

Jeff Dublin is running for re-election (Johnny sure isn't voting for him but more on that in a minute) and is holding what he calls a B.Y.O.B Party somewhere at some time in Jersey City (It isn't our job to advertise fundraisers for people we're not voting for) and announced said fundraiser on Twitter.

So Johnny merely asked:

JohnyActionSpacePunk ‏@JoAcSpPu  21m
@JeffreyDublin @SeenInJC Interlopers need not apply right Jeffrey? Do you still consider @MayorFulop an interloper? #JerseyCity #Hoboken

You'll all recall Mr. Dublin's dismissal of anyone (including Steve Fulop) who wasn't basically HIM living in Jersey City and trying to get elected to government offices and so forth, calling them interlopers:

“This young man wants the title of the mayor but not the job of the mayor,” Healy said. “Get out to vote so that, as (Freeholder) Jeff Dublin said, Jersey City can remain for Jersey City, not some newcomers, some interlopers who don’t know the city, don’t care about the city, and want to use the city for their own personal ambitions.”

So former-Mayor Healy supporter Jeffrey Dublin tuned into Johnny's Twitter account for an hour to no doubt see what he was dealing with and was most likely amazed that Johnny has more Twitter followers than only one person in Jersey City, Jeffrey Dublin.

If you hate all the snow this is a great Monday morning for you

The snowstorm up this way fell apart and we maybe have an inch on the ground if that. You will want your hats and scarves because that wind chill is wicked.

Late night open thread

A police officer stops a woman for speeding and asked if he could see her license. She replied in a huff, "I wish you guys could get your act together. Just yesterday you take away my license and then today you expect me to show it to you."

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Johnny's fearless Oscar predictions!

Jersey City Desk entertainment writer Johnny (funny how that works out) has his fearless forecast of something other than a football game for tonight's Academy Awards located somewhere in California, maybe Oxnard.

Best Movie: The Wolf of Wall Street
Best Actress: Amy Adams
Best Actor: Chiwetel Ejiofor
Best Supporting Actress: June Squibb
Best Supporting Actor: Jonah Hill
Best Director: David O. Russell

Johnny doesn't see one movie really going on a run where they pick off three and four major awards. This could lead to some surprise winners. Johnny's "dark horse" candidate to grab a surprise Oscar is Sandra Bullock. Though not favored to win, with many split ballots and her strong performance in carrying a major film it could just sway enough votes.

Late night open thread

That's gotta be some noise...

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Jersey City and the surround is under a Winter Storm Warning for tomorrow and Monday

#WinterStormCartman will begin as snow, sleet and rain tomorrow afternoon and pick up in intensity until it really gets going around midnight. We can expect 6-8" of snow but people, be careful, this will be heavy March snow. Heart attack while shoveling heavy. Please use caution.

We return you to your beautiful Saturday. Plenty of time to empty the stores, no rush.

Breakfast of blogging champions!

So what's on your breakfast menu Jersey City? Something as tasty and healthy as all this?

Late night open thread

One night, a police officer was staking out a particularly rowdy bar for possible drunk drivers. At closing time he saw a fellow stumble out of the bar, trip on the curb, and try his keys on five different cars before he found his. Then he sat in the front seat fumbling around with his keys for several minutes. Everyone left the bar and drove off. Finally, he started his engine and began to pull away.
The police officer was waiting for him. He stopped the driver, read him his rights and administered a Breathalyzer test. The results showed a reading of 0.0. The puzzled officer demanded to know how that could be.

The driver replied, "Tonight, I'm the designated decoy."

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THOMAS DOLBY!

SCIENCE!

Thomas Dolby with 'She Blinded Me with Science' to get things rolling.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with ROY ORBISON!

Not just Roy Orbison. Roy Orbison and a cast of some of the most brilliant singers and musicians assembled on one stage. Count 'em all while you watch the all-star live version of 'Dream Baby'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with JIMI HENDRIX!

Pretty much all traffic around these parts seems to be crosstown traffic. Jimi Hendrix pulling down the curtain on another Music Series with Crosstown Traffic'