May The 4th Be With You, Always
Grand openings, a big thing for sale, photogs on the Hudson, and more.
In this issue: lots of news. A bit o’ history. Let’s get on with it…
Block Parties, BBQ’s & Things That Go BOOM!
Walking back from July 4th lunch at The Madison in Hoboken (which included a waitress we know and love from Weehawken, and a 4th-themed cocktail with Pimm’s called “You Lost the War”), we talked to some of the guys with tripods and folding chairs, baking in the heat, who were waiting for their opportunity to snag primo photos of the Macys fireworks.
We floated the theory to them that the barges were farther south this year because, the last time the fireworks were on the Hudson, Hudson Yards wasn’t built/didn’t block the iconic Empire State Building view. They gave our theory a big “yeah, maybe” but they were very jolly, and if you want to see their work, it’s linked below, with one embed from Darren, the photographer on the right, at the end of this newsletter.
But basically, yes the fireworks crowds were nuts, but gee that was fun, and we hope it isn’t another decade+ before Macy’s decides to do the pyrotechnics on the Hudson again.
Seen above from L to R: Armin Kososki on Facebook, Frank Little Photography on Facebook, Darren Lucas on Instagram
July 14: You Wanna 🍕 Me?
Remember last week we said there’s just two businesses in Weehawken that participate in the food-waste reduction app called TooGoodToGo? Well one of them is called Fabiano’s, so we stopped by to find out who they are, why they signed up, and — happy days — we learned they are having a Grand Opening Party July 14th from 1PM-4PM. The flyer promises a DJ, photo booth, raffle, free samples & more.
And unlike the pizza place that was there before, Fabiano’s is open 7 days a week. Open since April, Fabiano’s is having this celebration to help people know they are there. They have an extensive menu you can see here and they are located at 201 Hackensack Plank Road, Weehawken, NJ 07086. Oh, and why did they sign up for the anti-food waste app? It was the idea of the 25-year-old daughter of one of the owners. Way to go, younger gen!
Where My Nerds At?
Weehawken library started a Sci-fi / Fantasy adult book club a few months ago. Next one is July 22, 7P at the Weehawken Public Library. The librarian who runs it, Sherod, is passionate about the genre, and he picks some fab reads. This month’s, Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer, is seen above and it’s super short, so for sure it’s possible for you to get it now and join in. Only possible bummer: This book club has been taking place at the same day and time as the Weehawken Library Board meeting. We asked if this might be moved in future and — we’ll see.
For $2.7 Million This 4-Floor Restaurant & Bar Can Be Yours
Thanks to neighbor Chris Tsakis who spied this on Facebook Marketplace:
If you don’t know The Cuban, well there’s one in Hoboken on Washington street, but this more recent one is on Park Avenue, a hop and a skip from Weehawken on the Union City side. This one opened in late 2023 or early 2024, boasts 4 floors, and has 5000 square feet. It has some very neat fake palm trees and a smooth tropical sea water blue bar. Including this incarnation, the building has been the site of 5 different restaurants over the past 15 years. Our best timeline is (and please, be gentle, these dates are best guesses):
Park Ave Bar & Grill, opened around 2008, closed 2015. But these owners did raise the roof, literally, which gives the rooftop bar their impressive city skyline views. If you don’t believe us, look closely at the building today—you can see about 6-10ft of brick up top that doesn’t match the rest of the facade. Note: This reporter produced 3 successful shows there in the summer of 2014, on the 3rd floor, with comedians, bands, and even a local opera singer. The show was in The NY Times, NJ.com, and was front page news in the Hudson Reporter (which stopped publication forever in Jan 2023).
Then Vale, a tapas bar, which opened maybe in 2017? They even had a billboard on the 495 for a time. The outside was painted black and had deep red lighting leading some locals to call it “vampire tapas.”
Then in 2019, it became Zona Libre. This Mexican restaurant had fun interiors and a big sexy lady painted on the side of the building in a metal bikini, next to a giant snake wearing a headdress. You couldn’t tell if she was going to fight the snake, or ride it, but either way, it had flavor.
Then in 2020, or maybe 2021 — smack dab in the midst of the pandemic — it became Mama Sushi, an “Asian-Latino fusion” restaurant. Latino cuisine and Japanese cuisine are fan favorites. But together? Well have you ever had sushi and wished there was more cheese in it? If your answer is yes, then you were probably sad when this closed.
But what was it before all of this? According to neighbors it was “an Irish place” and further digging with people who know: It was called the Parkway, and was owned by Billy Swanson. We wish we could find a picture of it then. Anyway, there are many great stories about this building that will need to wait until we have a Weehawken Gazette podcast… so stay tuned.
Wee Knew How To Protest Back Then
The above photo is dated 9/4/1958. Looks like a senior project at an arts college, but no. According to the Weehawken Time Machine, it was a ferry protest:
“Weehawken commuters protest via fish masks the impending shutdown of the Hudson River ferry they're about to board on 9/4. Fish can swim the river, they say, but commuters can't and the boat is the only way across. West Side Division of the New York Central says service bows out 9/12.”
In Brief
Though it felt a bit improbable, we were pretty psyched a branch of an acclaimed Paris museum was slated to come to Jersey City. But seems the Centre Pompidou x Jersey City project — might be toast. This from The NY Times: “State lawmakers voted to pull funding for an outpost of the Pompidou Center in Jersey City, blaming rising costs. The mayor said the decision was retribution.”
Read the NYT article here: A French Museum Collides With New Jersey Politics
Speaking of beautiful artful things in Jersey City, a Weehawken local has a lovely flower and coffee shop in JC Heights. Check out Flor y Cafe and follow them on Instagram here: instagram.com/flor_y_cafe_flowershop
Got Recs? Corrections? Wanna Advertise?
This newsletter is free to read and subscribe to. And we are now open to select advertisers/sponsors. Maybe you are a realtor, or you have a business that needs more buzz? Get in early and you’ll get a deal.
Our website is in process so best contact is to email advertising@bignoyes.com or you can send a DM on Instagram to: instagram.com/felberama — you can also comment here, but you know, be nice.
PS Subscribers get this newsletter first AND they can laugh at exclusive typos that are later corrected in the archive version.
Tah for now nice nabes! Hope your holiday weekend is a blast.
Susie
Hi Susie, I’m Peruvian American and a subscriber to your newsletter. Are you aware there is a significant Japanese and Chinese immigrant population in Peru, Brazil and other South American countries? Specific to the Japanese community in Peru, their influence resulted in nikkei cuisine, the merger of the two cultures and culinary traditions. I gather you are presuming it was Mexican Japanese.
I cracked up at Mama’s Sushi. If you’ve ever wish that your sushi had more cheese…
🤣🤣🤣