Do You Hear the Pile Drivers Sing?

Weehawken events, recommendations & more.

Reporting live from — BANG BANG BANG — Weehawken. Yup, they are chucking up another condo and we’re all trying not to go bug nutty from the sound. Anyway, here’s some blather followed by news you can use...

Hello from upcliff Weehawken

Photo credit: Susie Felber March 29, 2012

Wait, what is “upcliff?” Well it’s anyplace in Weehawken that isn’t the waterfront, according to some people who live on the waterfront. I’ve lived in Weehawken for 18 years and only just learned “upcliff” was a thing. Sometimes people say “up on the cliff” but I’ve found that can refer to West New York* or really anywhere in NoHu that’s above sea level.

So if there’s the waterfront and an upcliff, what is the Shades? Well thing is, many people in Weehawken don’t know the Shades exists. I’ve got friends there. It’s a vibe. I love it. You haven’t lived until you’ve attended a Shades party in summer. So I recommend you discover it for yourself. I’m not going to even tell you how to find the Shades. It finds you when you are ready.** Note: one longtime resident recently told me they don’t like the name “the Shades” — they prefer what it was once called: downtown. Me? I’ll call it whatever you prefer. I just want people to be happy. And speaking of happy good times, here come the events and recommendations.

Got eclipse glasses?

The eclipse was April 8, so if you still have them, congrats, you are a hoarder. I still have them, and I learned the Weehawken Library is collecting them for a good cause. They are collecting until 4/23 and will send them to Astronomers Without Borders and Eclipse Glasses USA so they can be reused. Update 4/19: I returned them.

Does this photo make my wrists look wrinkled? I’ll make it really small in case the answer is yes.

Awesome Free Documentary Film Screening in Weehawken: Tues. 4/23 at 7P

Speaking of the library, the library will host a screening of Join or Die a documentary currently on the film festival circuit. Description below (from the library with edits by me) and note this is NOT at the library… it’s being held at the Nutrition Center.

Join your friends and neighbors for a special screening of the feature-length documentary based on Harvard professor Robert Putnam's book "Bowling Alone." Learn why coming together socially and civically is important for the future of the country. The documentary film called "Join or Die" is about the decline of the American community—and what we can do to save it. The screening will be held on April 23rd at 7pm at the Nutrition Center at 201 Highwood Ave. Light refreshments will be available. Local group reps will be in attendance to tell you more should you want to join something: The Weehawken Elks, Weehawken Women's Club, Weehawken Ambulance, Charity Quest app, and more.

What else?

I need to get off my butt so here’s some stuff in brief:

• THE HAWK is a comedy and music variety show I’ve been doing upcliff at the Weehawken Elks. It takes place in their downstairs pub and always sells out. The next one is Friday May 17 and this one will have a free cheese tasting sponsored by America’s oldest cheese factory: Crowley Cheese. The show is at 8P, the cheese and doors open at 7P. $18 in advance, $25 at the door (if available). Tickets here on Eventbrite: http://bit.ly/HawkMay17 — Eventbrite fees make it a hair over $22 but it’s still cheaper than paying at the door. Top notch talent coming including Chris DeLuca, Matt Goldich, Susannah Perlman and the Willa Bassen Trio. PS Chris DeLuca introduced me to Weehawken when he invited a bunch of comedians to his Super Bowl party so if you don’t like me, blame him.

• BUSINESSES WE LOVE:

  Bagels On Park is awesome and has improved life considerably in the short time it has been open. Welcoming people and delicious grub.

  PrintEd is a print studio right in Weehawken. I am so glad I listened to a nice neighbor who told me to go there instead of just farming out my printing to Staples/Canva/whatever. They did my little postcards and posters beautifully, but they also do huge stuff like car wraps and celebrity events. Check out instagram.com/printedgraphicsnj to see more.

  Mile Square Theater in Hoboken is so cool. It’s a professional non-profit theater that got a brand new home in 2019. It’s a hop and a skip from Trader Joe’s, and y’all know where that is. I wrote for their most recent benefit and it was fire. Article from 4/4/24 that quotes me here. Anyway there’s a cool kids show coming 4/24 and you can find a coupon code for tickets on their IG: https://www.instagram.com/milesquaretheatre/

  Hoboken Girl is a nice site for food and events. They have a few other sites and are also about to launch Bergen Girl. But what is inbetween Hoboken and Bergen? Hmm let me think… Nope! No idea. Probably nothing… yes friends, wee are a wonderful well-kept secret. But at this point it’d be nice if someone knew we existed. I’m laughing/dying inside. But whatever! Weehawken Gazette is here for you.

  Got tips? Recs?

  I want to hear them. This newsletter is free at the moment. For the moment, best contact is to send a DM to the Weehawken Gazette Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weehawkengazette/ — you can also comment here, but you know, be nice.

  Tah for now lovely nabes!

*In January I took a cab from Newark airport to Weehawken and the driver was telling me about how he had to drive someone to “West New York” and wound up on the west side of Manhattan looking for it for ages before realizing he was in the wrong state. He was really mad they named a town in NJ “West NY” and I felt for him. We laughed away the hurt while stuck in traffic on the 495.

** I just finished reading The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern IFKYK