Late night open thread

Well well well, it sure seems like summer just flew by. Technically it still has a couple weeks to run but as we sit on precipice of September and fall tonight how about a little ode to the summer that was. The Rolling Stones before bed and 'Summer Romance' taking us into the low 70's tomorrow and September.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Jersey City Desk fans know what's cooking...

...they know two short sleeps will bring back the Saturday Night Scoreboard Show! Johnny doesn't do much with nor care much about the numbers this place gets as far as views but he does know people crowd in from everywhere on Saturday nights in the fall.

We've had to place a ban on Penn State this year being among the scores listed, except for their losses, because some schools are just vile.

Governor Christie hits a cool 16% approval rating

Governor Beach Chair has now surpassed Jim Florio and Brendan Byrne on the all-time low approval rating scale for governors since approval ratings became a thing. Byrne and Florio had held the co-loser rating at 17%.

While we saw a lot of hangers on and family around Christie after he enjoyed his personal private beach weekend but not nearly enough to make up 16% of the voters in the poll. Who ARE these other people?

When you think about it, that's only 16 points higher than Johnny.

A new chapter in the neverending story of the Pulaski Skyway rehab

The Neverending Story that is the Pulaski Skyway rehab pens a new chapter as a part of the entire loping project reopens to the public just mere years after the two year fix (now on it's fourth year) continues. What do you have for us oh NJDOT?

The reconstructed eastbound lanes of upper level of Route 139 in Jersey City between Central and Palisade avenues will reopen today, state Department of Transportation officials said.

The work being performed all along the four-lane roadway that runs from Kennedy Boulevard to the Holland Tunnel is part of the $1 billion Pulaski Skyway replacement project.

DOT officials said one travel lane will be open from Central Avenue to Oakland Avenue, and it will open to two lanes from Oakland Avenue to Palisade Avenue.

There's more, so much more on this, with road details that'll make your head hurt at this link. Go get an Advil first.

Late night open thread

There was something wrong about that fucking giraffe.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

A little something for the facts and stats crowd

Caitlin Mota at the Jersey Journal has collected and ranked the compensation packages of all the mayors of Hudson County. Pay ranges anywhere from $2500 a year to one mayor making $116K.

If you wanna see who makes what you gotta click.

Remnants of Hurricane Harvey may dump on us over Labor Day weekend

With weather being hard to predict with any exactness 3 days out the Jersey City Desk viewing area and the surround may get the last remnants of Hurricane Harvey currently making an awful awful mess for our friends in Houston and along the Gulf coast. Right now the bulk of the rain looks to hit later Saturday with highs in the mid 60's (Boardwalks and state parks will suffer surely if this is the case) with Sunday rebounding somewhat. The story is just a click away.

Late night open thread

A lot of lost or abandoned dogs and cats are coming to New Jersey after Hurricane Harvey in Houston.

Can you help? Will you? Johnny is asking nicely.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

We're so damned lost, where the hell is Innsbruck Austria?

A man using a phone app managed, like ya do, to ride through the Lincoln Tunnel. Probably everyone behind the biker laughed and laughed as he backed everyone up because (helpful hint) there are no bike lanes in the Lincoln Tunnel. Actually Port Authority police said the man was on a food delivery and after being stopped and questioned he showed them the app and that yes indeed it did take him through the Lincoln Tunnel police confirmed. Johnny thinks cops could have let this slide but they did issue the biker a trespass ticket.

Hey, slackers, you have one week to get your paperwork in to run for mayor or council

Let's go you layouts, slug-a-beds, and ham and eggers, you only have one more week to get your paperwork in to run for council and mayoral runs. As far as your mayoral paperwork and money you plan to spend running against Steve Fulop you may well just go take that cash and go up on your roof and throw it into the wind. Trust Johnny, it'll have the exact same effect. You'd be better served to buy a 20x20 piece of property and go get a 20 year abatement on it. Those are automatic here.

Terrence T. McDonald points out it's a crowded council race in so many wards, but you're gonna have to go give him some click love to see some of the numbers of people running in each ward.

Why are you still here? Skedaddle!

Late night open thread

Johnny is just gutted by late word tonight former Michigan State head basketball coach Jud Heathcote has passed away at age 90. Heathcote you may recall led the 1979 MSU basketball team with Magic Johnson and Greg Kelser to an NCAA title over Larry Bird's Indiana State Sycamores.

Heathcote was an old school yeller, complainer and invented the 'Jud Thunk" in which he'd pop himself in the forehead for the sins of a player. Off the court he was a wonderful and generous man. One of Johnny's favorite stories was the year Jud had announced his retirement and all the Big Ten schools on his last visit gave some kind of gift out of respect to a long time rival. His last road conference game was in Ann Arbor vs the University of Michigan. After the game they had a presentation to Heatcote and the U-M athletic department gave Jud a very very nice home entertainment system and grand TV of the day to go with. Meeting the press afterward Heathcote said "I'd like to thank the Michigan athletic department for just a wonderful gift. It will give me hours of pleasure, I know. Thanks so much you didn't have to do it, but nice going you did."

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Classic Jersey

Johnny found this sign on an old warehouse downtown and felt this is pretty much the rule of city driving 'round these parts.

Late night open thread

Watching Viserion melt the wall Johnny heard the voice of every shop teacher he ever had telling him not to stare at the arc welder.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Late night open thread

You kids keep it down out there, Johnny's gonna play some late night Warcraft. Also a reminder to the JCPD and JCPD, there is a no siren rule in effect until 8am within three blocks of Johnny's house. Ask the black helicopters if you need clarification, they know where he lives.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

A couple snaps from today's LGBT Pride Fest downtown

An absolutely great event and so much fun every year.

Late night open thread

The Red Bulls saved a little bit of face for their fans by finishing 1-1 vs NYCFC in Harrison tonight. The Red Bulls were a mere 20 minutes away from losing all 9 points this year in the Hudson River Derby.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with SPLIT ENZ!

What a terrific late summer night we have tonight. Heck, late August and it looks like mid to upper 70's for the next ten days. That's a fine way to lead into fall. Johnny's been excited all day about tonight's Music Series and coming at it from a cool weather state of mind.

'I Got You' by Split Enz getting us started tonight.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE TING TINGS!

Summer night, fun song, danceable, singable.

You're like, welcome and stuff.

"They call him Johnny, and he's not fun-ny, that's not his name, that's not his name..."

The Ting Tings batting second with 'That's Not My Name'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS!

Guess who is having a birthday today? No, not Johnny. Mr. Elvis Costello that's who, someone who has made just an awesome impression on Johnny. Seen him a couple times (once with The Police) and never no never went home disappointed.

Birthday cake and ice cream for your ears friends, '(I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea' sending you on your way on a gorgeous late summer night in Cool City.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

As summer comes to a close so too does the "Summer of Hell"

Amtrak said the repairs being done all across the tracks at Penn Station will be done on time and that the inconvenience commuters are experiencing is coming to a close:

"Track repairs have continued apace while many New Yorkers focus on the ongoing subway crisis, and regular service is now scheduled to resume on Tuesday, September 5th...

...Amtrak has already completed more than six of the eight scheduled weeks of repair work, according to the agency. Repairs have focused on a network of aging New Jersey Transit and Amtrak tracks on the station's western end, confirmed in the wake of mounting service delays, derailments, and residual commuter headaches."

While only a fool would take their word for it, it is good news, far better than we keep hearing from the Pulaski Skyway repair team.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Say Jersey City...

...more specifically, say Jersey City men, did any of you you know, walk out of your pants on the way home from the train, you know, like ya do? Maybe you just weren't even paying any attention at all. Perhaps the belt broke but doggone it man, you've lost your britches. You can find them near Christopher Columbus and Washington Street.

You put your pants on!

Late night open thread

On the next Ghost Hunters; The ghost of Abraham Lincoln makes contact with the team and tells them he'd like to change his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Do you like funny movies about Gladiators Joey?

The esteemed BBC queried 253 film critics from across the globe and asked them to send back a list of the top 100 comedies of all time. If you follow this fast-acting link you'll be able to see the top 100 along with those nagging questions you want answered about why some of yours didn't make the list:

What the critics had to say about the top 25
The full list of critics who participated – and how they voted
Does comedy differ from region to region?
Do men and women find different films funny?

Here are three to wet your whistle:
87. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
53. The Blues Brothers
15. Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Late night open thread

A pic Johnny took during today's eclipse. What a different kind of day. It would seem if for only one day America actually stopped and smelled the roses if you will. Even our soon to be blind president got into the act. In 2024 there will be another total solar eclipse that will start in Mexico, go through Dallas, Little Rock, Indy, Toledo, Cleveland, Rochester & Buffalo NY, Montpelier VT and on into Canada. It should be about 90% coverage on that day 'round these parts while today was 73%.

Make your plans now.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

For the pet lovers out there; they'll be fine during the eclipse

If you're a pet lover like Johnny it may have crossed your mind about the fact if people need protective eye covering to prevent damage wouldn't dogs and cats that would be outside need some kind of protection? Johnny did the research and it said that dogs and cats very very rarely if ever look right at the sun so it would be unlikely they would today.

Get those glasses on people and enjoy an astronomical treat within the hour.

Late night open thread

The Hound from Game of Thrones will be pitching for the Mets tomorrow night.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Let's get prepped for that eclipse tomorrow Jersey City!

Does everyone have their PROPER glasses for viewing tomorrow? Good, if not you gotta get 'em. If you follow Johnny on Twitter you'll know he retweeted a gentleman last night who was a very curious pre-teen back in 1978 and looked at a partial eclipse and gave the warning his right eye still burns from those few seconds of unprotected curiosity.

OK, so now that we know tomorrow is nothing to fool with, here are the particulars. The eclipse will begin at 1:23pm with the maximum coverage at 2:44pm and the moon exiting the sun's path at 4:00pm. This 74% coverage eclipse won't be the usual moon crossing sun here, the moon will drift in front of the sun and will look like it's pivoting in the middle of the sun before moving away to what the eye would consider 10 o'clock on the dial. Confused by that? A video is worth a thousand words, click this handy link with what it'll look like and all the details beyond what we've discussed here.                                          

Late night open thread

“In the trees the night wind stirs, bringing the leaves to life, endowing them with speech; the electric lights illuminate the green branches from the under side, translating them into a new language.”
 -- E.B. White

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with QUEEN!

Sometimes you just can't ignore current events and when that happens Johnny loves using music to comment on them. Let's get to the news:

Who's next? Not pictured are two prime candidates; Gorka? Miller? Both good choices. Anyway as any kind of publication we'd be remiss not to pile on the thimble-headed gherkin in charge and lead things off tonight fittingly with Queen and 'Another One Bites the Dust'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with THE FLAMINGOS!

For Johnny's money no song encompasses the harmonies of doo-wop better than this one. The Flamingos from all the way back in 1959 with 'I Only Have Eyes for You' which might also be one of the bestest love songs ever sung.

Hoboken woos Johnny hard (often ignoring restraining orders) but Jersey City, he only has eyes for you.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with GORILLAZ!

This song is so great Johnny just can't get over it sometimes. Yes, the studio song is great. How does one improve on great in a short amount of time? Get yourselves an AOL Session and to send things over the top by adding (reverence please) Paul Simonon on bass and Mick Jones out front in the vanguard. It sure worked when they did it for The Clash.

Johnny's just gonna shut up now, Gorillaz with 'Glitter Freeze' from their AOL Sessions release, BOOM

Late night open thread

“The first week of August hangs at the very top of the summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a Ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. The weeks that come before are only a climb from balmy spring, and those that follow a drop to the chill of autumn, but the first week of August is motionless, and hot. It is curiously silent, too, with blank white dawns and glaring noons, and sunsets smeared with too much color. Often at night there is lightning, but it quivers all alone. There is no thunder, no relieving rain. These are strange and breathless days, the dog days, when people are led to do things they are sure to be sorry for after.”
 -- Natalie Babbitt, Tuck Everlasting

So many brilliant, moving descriptions of August in literature and yet so many sound similar.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Pretty much everything wrong with New Jersey in one story

FOUR public jobs. Four. You can't make this stuff up. Read on and you'll probably be just as disgusted as Johnny.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

How 'bout them Red Bulls?

The New York Red Bulls rallied tonight from down 2-0 in Cincy vs FC Cincinnati to get power up and win 3-2 and advance to the final of the U.S. Open Cup Final vs Sporting KC on September 20th.

Gonzalo Veron started the fightback from the Red Bulls on 75 minutes. Three minutes later it was Bradley Wright-Phillips heading home to draw NY level. Bradley Wright-Phillips then scored the winner and there was much rejoicing.
Just not in Cincinnati.

Late night open thread

"In the long dusks of summer we walked the suburban streets through scents of maple and cut grass, waiting for something to happen."
 -- Steven Millhauser, Dangerous Laughter

Time for Jersey City After Dark

Won't it be news when things like this aren't news

The Jersey City Fire Department has promoted its first female firefighter to the position of fire battalion chief, congratulations Constance Zappella. Zapella took a few moments to talk to the young girls of Jersey City and what she'd say to them about her new job:

Zappella, 38, said she's working on having the most successful career with the department. Asked what her message would be to young Jersey City girls with dreams of becoming a firefighter, Zappella said she would tell them to "become one of us."

"I'm very feminine, I'm obviously female, but don't even think about that," she said after the ceremony. "Go in, if you really want this job and you really want to make a difference in your city, go in with a positive attitude. Forget, put it on the shelf that you're a female and become one of us."

Our best to Battalion Chief Zappela!

Late night open thread

Do you know where you were on this night in 2003? You were dealing with the blackout if you were in the northeast, midwest and Ontario. Johnny remembers having a huge neighborhood BBQ in Ypsilanti and got out the telescope as with no ambient light anywhere the night sky was reclaimed if only for a night.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The Star Ledger editorial board says what we're all thinking on Charlottesville

Required reading on a Monday night before bed.

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Charlottesville

Friends, what we've witnessed by American citizens acting in unAmerican and unPatriotic ways simply cannot be allowed to stand. Nazi flags, confederate flags, idiot groups like Proud Boys and the so-called 3%ers that support and participate in this shit and beyond the American pale. Anyone who doesn't call this out for what it is, shameful white supremacists, inciting violence, showing up dressed to fight, and then using ISIS style tactics by driving a car at speed into a peaceful group of citizens has no place here, not for any race, religion, creed or especially political party. Sadly, one seems ok with the president emboldening this nonsense with weak almost denials this was Nazi and right wing related because he doesn't want to upset his base. It's beyond disgraceful and your inaction, GOP, WILL be remembered. If you can't stand against this kind of swill and the heinous human beings behind it where DO you draw the line?

Speak up and speak out America, rip this shit out root and stem.

Late night open thread

Did you roll up your car windows? Did you?

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with BECK!

Wherever and however you are tuning in tonight we want to hear you hit the chorus loud and proud all over town this evening. Johnny's got his windows open so let's hear this one Cool City. Beck, and the singalong-friendly, 'Loser'

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with 10,000 MANIACS!

We're using the studio version of this song, 'These Are Days', because the studio version with Natalie Merchant superimposed dancing on the eagle heads on the Chrysler Building was creeping Johnny (heights) out, making him dizzy and those effects weren't very special.

Here now, the safer studio track.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with U2!

Let's rattle and hum along to this gold standard from U2 and the boys in the band though Johnny can't remember one of their names right now. Feel free to jump in down in the comments section but unless Johnny's stroking out it's not Ringo.

The Hewson lad and his mates with 'All I Want is You'

One of The Edge's best works -- JASP, Libarry of Music Reviews Book 805, ch9, p128

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Time flies when you're not murdering people

It was 40 years ago his day in 1977 that David Berkowitz, Son of Sam, was arrested in NYC. The NY Daily News has a very interesting look back at the time with articles from the day on the shootings, the pressure police were under, the involvement of famed columnist Jimmy Breslin, the whole schmeer. Well worth a look.

Late night open thread

Summer is winding down kids, enjoy those precious "Just five more minutes" moments.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

The city has to stand strong on planning with Citibike

Recently, Citibike released a plan to start pulling their bikeshare bikes out of northern and southern areas of Jersey City. They claim there is simply not the usage numbers to make it worth their while to keep them at these supposed outposts; the city is standing up and saying, no, they need to stay there.

The city needs to and should make this stand if they truly believe their outward-bound growth plan from downtown to Journal Square is going to catch elsewhere. They have to stand tall and demand this plan be given time to work, otherwise why even bother with a plan. Terrence T. McDonald has more on the specifics:

Citi Bike was successful largely Downtown, where about 60 percent of its users live, but much less so on the city's northern and southern ends. Ridership stats from its first year in operation showed that 26,480 trips originated from the system's most popular station, at the Grove Street PATH stop. Only 171 trips originated from the least popular station, located at Columbia Park.

The stations initially slated to be removed account for 4 percent of ridership, according to Fulop.

Hold tight Jersey City, because saying these far reaching areas of our Jersey City are just not even worth the investment of bikes is just depressing.

Late night open thread

“I'll take crazy over stupid any day.”
 -- Joss Whedon

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Do you like ghost stories Jersey City?

Ever since Ghost Hunters folded their teevee tents the hunt for ghosts doesn't seem to grab as much of the public attention as it did just a few years ago. Your chance to see ghostly videos and discuss them is sure coming up in Jersey City on August 16 at White Eagle Hall in downtown Jersey City. Ghost hunter (but not from the show of that same name) Chad Calek is bringing his documentary, "Sir Noface" for a screening and there will be time for a Q & A. There is also the opportunity for a meet and greet which you can find out about by following this handy link.

Late night open thread

Did any Mets fans recognize fireballer Noah Syndergaard as part of the Lannister army last night on Game of Thrones? Syndegaard started out the Dothraki attacker with a fastball spear right down the middle and took him right out.

Instead of a free trip to first base, that Dothraki got a trip to the morgue.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Charles Mainor drops out of Mayor's race to concentrate on Ward S council seat

Charles Mainor, who said he recently suffered a 'stroke-like event' and was told by doctors to cut down on stress, has dropped his mayoral bid (which lets face it was starting from way behind) for the Ward A seat (where he starts from way ahead). Mainor is very familiar with the Ward A territory having served it in the state assembly for three terms starting in 2010. Current Ward A councilman Frank Gajewski is not running for reelection. Terrence T. McDonald has much more on Mainor's run and most importantly his health, just a click away.

Late night opent thread

That was one incredible treat!

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Any Game of Thrones fans think we're in for a treat tonight?

Just the buzz building before this week is a lot like before last year's Battle of the Bastards. Some may have come from the episode leaking and those few having seen it must have raved long and loud. Johnny has a hunch we're in for a wild night.

Late night open thread

Good news Game of Thrones fans, those who have decided that they somehow must enjoy the leaked episode 4 on computer screens in small sound and 360p video all agree it's an all-timer of an episode. Johnny's heard boo about details and refuses to watch until tomorrow night but in general the leakies said it's a very good one.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Why not just do what other drivers get ticketed for...

...or at least the neighborhood has tried to get drivers ticketed for turning into oncoming traffic/going the wrong way up a one-way at 2nd St and Warren. Here today Johnny had the displeasure of watching a Jersey City cop, not on any kind of call, just decided to make an illegal turn to save himself a minute.

Nice job, asshole.

Jersey City police, a D+ force in a B+ town.

Late night open thread

Keep an eye to the sky tonight friends, some pretty fierce storms out there. After this morning's rude wakeup these look like they could be even louder.

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with JULIAN COPE!

Kind of going for a great 'songs you most likely haven't heard in many moons' kind of Music Series. Johnny takes after hockey writer Dickie Dunn, he just tries to capture the spirit of the thing. Kicking it off tonight a great song by Julian Cope, 'World Shut Your Mouth' from 1986.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with BOB WELCH!

Well now heres a lost gem, a perfect summer song. Ladies and jellyspoons, Mr. Bob Welch with 'Ebony Eyes' and of course Bob will be here at the Orbit Room til next Wednesday.

Friday night MULTIMEDIA EXTRAVAGANZA with MISSING PERSONS!

Yes, Johnny knows all about the NY vs LA thing on songs and you'll never hear Randy Newman on the Music Series (honestly, it's not 'I Love L.A.' that would do it, if Johnny posts 'Short People' his wife kills him) but this LA song, 'Walking in L.A.' still sounds good after all these years.

Fun fact, you'll also remember Missing Persons lead singer Dale Bozzio from her work with Frank Zappa especially on 'Crew Slut'

Late night open thread

Photons have mass? I didn't even know they were Catholic.
 -- Unknown

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

Just a quick Flashback Friday image tonight

Johnny's been going since 4am and has to turn this around and start at 4am tomorrow. How about a #FlashbackFriday image of some of that incredible artwork on the back of the Pep Boys building (R.I.P.)

Late night open thread

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

So sorry for the late update

Johnny serves on a couple boards and one needed his immediate attention tonight and so he never got around to doing a proper review of the Garbage and Blondie show last night. Without going too into the details as he's dog tired, it was a fun fun and really good show. The bands brought out the best in each other, it seems they both lifted their game playing with such esteemed colleagues. Debbie Harry seemed completely at home, and why wouldn't she, as they did a nice mix of the classics and the new. Debbie commanded the stage and you could tell was having fun doing it. Garbage sounds so big, and the music seems like it'll just jump right through you was sharp, tight and on point. No jitters, just good sonic rock and roll. You know how they say some movies might not win an Oscar but they are a great fun popcorn movie? This was a show like that, fun, awesome sounding, funny and great music done by great music visionaries who still pay close attention to the little things on show night for the fans.

Late night open thread

We'll get to the show tomorrow, it's late and Johnny needs his beauty rest.

“August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time.”
 -- Sylvia Plath

Time for Jersey City, After Dark

A really big show tonight at The Beacon Theatre

Blondie and Garbage, as mentioned in last week's Music Series lands tonight and Johnny can't wait. He's always loved the strong women in music and tonight boy howdy we get two. The bands are fabulous but there's something about Shirley and Debbie that makes tonight a true event. Full update on the show tonight.