Night Riders & Nachos
Plus Trader Joe's tote mania, an exclusive interview, bike ops and more
Isn’t it lovely out? Like, if you look outside, but don’t actually go outside? Because if you do go outside you will get rained on or blown sideways, or both, but either way, you’ll be cold. Anyway, enough kvetching. Lots to show and tell so let’s get on with it, shall we?
Bodies Politic: Weehawken & Jersey City Say ‘Hands Off’
Last Saturday, April 5th, there were reportedly more than 1,300 rallies in the US and around the world to promote democracy and protest a variety of actions by President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. On the same day the protest in Manhattan is said to have stretched approximately 20 blocks. In our little corner of the globe, it was cold and wet, but that didn’t deter hundreds of protesters who took to the streets in Hudson County to march and chant, peacefully, at events in Weehawken and Jersey City.
See more pictures and the issues raised via the article by Caren Lissner, linked below.
Anti-Trump 'Hands Off' Protestors Hit Streets In Hudson County Source: Patch
Related: the NJ primary is coming up in June. Early voting begins June 3 and primary day is June 10. Register to vote or check your registration here.
Weehawken Cries Merci
In 1949, France sent WWI-era trains full of gifts to Pier H in Weehawken as part of France’s "Merci (or Gratitude) Train." The cars were filled with gifts from French citizens, and some still live in the state museum. The NJ train went missing in 1958, but was “accidentally” discovered recently by a historian who saw pictures of the boxcar on Facebook and connected it to a dilapidated train that was sitting in storage in Kansas City. The hope is that with funding, it could be restored by Memorial Day 2027.
Learn more and see what the train looks like now via the article below.
'Like finding buried treasure': Missing WWI boxcar gifted to NJ by France returning home Source: David M. Zimmerman, northjersey.com
Rhythm & NJ Roots: Meet JC’s Modern Folkie Sean Kiely
Do you like folk music? Thanks to
we found out about Sean Kiely, pictured, a new-to-us local singer/songwriter. His music seems hopeful and haunting, super chill, and yet packed with tasty anxious corners.Anyway, turns out he’s playing in Hoboken on Thursday April 24 as part of a mini-tour with his friend and colleague Jeff Taylor at the 503 Social Club, and tickets for the show are here. We had a few questions about his NJ cred and he was kind enough to answer.
Q: According to your bio you are from Jersey City. Born and raised there? Also saw you used a music studio in Union City, so if you wanna hawk them, go for it.
Kiely: I'm in Jersey City — I've lived here since 2008! I was born in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, my family moved to Bergen County, NJ when I was 11. I returned to Brooklyn for a couple of years after college, but now I've lived in JC for most of my adult life. My album Postcards of the Reckoning was recorded in Union City at Kaleidoscope Sound, with engineer Jeremy Delaney.
Q: Found a lovely reference to Paterson Plank Road in one of your songs. Do you have any other songs you've released that pay tribute to the NJ side?
Kiely: Yes! Thanks for catching that. I do like writing with specificity about places, and NJ locales appear a lot in my work. The song 'Me & My Bros' from Your Logo, My Logo references the Palisades, and the title track on that record references Paterson, NJ, which is one town over from where I went to college at William Paterson University. I have another song where I wrote lyrics to an existing piece of music (an adaptation of The Bad Plus' 'Pound For Pound'), where I sing a little bit about Long Branch, NJ.
Q: Is the NJ / NoHu music scene vibrant? What are some fave venues?
Kiely: It is vibrant! But it also often feels like an underdog, with most music venues not having a true stage or nightly programming. Pet Shop is great but they mostly just do Thursdays in the back room and some cool things downstairs from time to time. I have a weekly bluegrass gig on Wednesday nights at The Archer, and they have live music on Thursdays as well, but nothing on the weekends. We have a great major venue in JC with White Eagle Hall, but there's still a big gap in the 100-200 capacity music club: there's been no true Hudson County successor to Maxwell's since it closed over a decade ago. I wrote recently about the closure of Fox & Crow, a super tiny listening room in the Heights, where I played 30+ times both as a frontperson and sideperson. It was a great place, and I really miss it. I love the 503 Social Club, James Mastro is curating a very cool thing down there. We all gotta show up at the shows and show the owners, the bookers, and the performers that it's worth their energy.
Thanks to Sean for the time. Learn more at seankielymusic.com, find him on Facebook here and Instagram here.
Edgewater Experiences Pastel Power Grab
On April 9th there was a huge line outside the Trader Joe’s in Edgewater, NJ that snaked through the parking lot. People who saw the crowd feared there was a new pandemic they hadn’t heard of, or that tariffs were causing people to stock up on whatever a person might need to stock up on. It was neither of those things, and it wasn’t egg-related either. Although it was Easter-egg colored:
Yes Trader Joe’s mini-totes are a major sensation. These little bags debuted last year in navy, yellow, red and forest green — and went viral. They’re still $2.99 but available in four new colors, seen above. Some people just like them, and some believe they can be resold for big bucks. Apparently this kooky bag-mania happened coast to coast. Related: A Frenzy at Trader Joe’s: ‘Everyone’s Here for the Tote Bags’ Source: NY Times
We say if you missed out on the bags, pluck a spring lambie off the rack at Hoboken Pet shop. Unlike the bags, they’re soft and fluffy, many squeak, and they can supply your USDA daily recommended dose of pink and lavender.
Let’s Roll
Couple of local bike events of note:
Due to the cold rainy forecast, a Jersey City nighttime “Light-Up” ride originally scheduled for 4/11, is now on for Thursday 4/17. Stay tuned to Bike JC on Instagram for all the details.
Then this Sunday 4/13 at 10:30A, there’s a first community ride of the season starting at Hamilton Park in Weehawken. Poster and more info here.
2025 Weeward Winner: GP’s Restaurant
GP’s on 69th street in Guttenberg is a family restaurant that has been in business for over 45 years, which is maybe why the whole experience is like getting a hug from the 70s. Tucked a block off Blvd East a stone’s throw from The Galaxy, the wood, brick and slag glass atmosphere is a cozy throwback, and the food is a red-sauce lovers paradise. The best dish? Lots of people would say it’s the parm, but we think it’s the pasta fagioli. Served steaming hot in wide low bowls, this GP’s specialty is like getting garlicy lava shot right into your veins. The greek salad mixed at the table and expertly scraped into equal portions is a family fave too. Beyond the food and decor, there’s bonus points for their no-stress valet parking and Joso, everyone’s favorite waiter. Of note: they say they are now taking reservations for Easter Sunday, the 20th, when they’ll be open earlier than usual, starting at 3P. Follow them on Instagram here and learn more at www.gpsrestaurant.com
Friday Night Lights Nachos
Friday April 11 at 7P hit the Weehawken Elks lodge where it’s just $5 for games, a nacho bar, sports and seeing other humans. Remember they only take cash and then just show up. The next morning, show up at the Elks to walk off the cheese at 9:30a with SilverStrides, which hosts friendly walks in Weehawken and Hoboken. The walks are the brainchild of Erin Kreis, a first-year biomedical engineering PhD student at Stevens. SilverStrides says their walking groups “are designed to promote holistic healthy aging physically through exercise, emotionally through social connection, and cognitively through lifelong learning.” Walk info can be found here: silverstrides.com/welcome
Cue: Wrap Music
This newsletter is free to read and subscribe to, but we’re all for freebies and/or money too, which we will always disclose.
To reach us with tips: tips@bignoyes.com
Just note that if you have an event or idea, send us ALL the info. Date, time, address, cost, etc.
If you want our sponsor rate sheet or want to discuss sponsored content ideas? Email: advertising@bignoyes.com
If snail mail is your thing, just write to:
Susie Felber
Weehawken Gazette
P.O. Box 3006
Weehawken, NJ 07086
Another mode of contact is to send a DM on Instagram to: instagram.com/weehawkengazette — FYI we currently have way more subscribers than IG followers, and we’re glad for that too.
Tah for now nice nabes!
Susie
PS Subscribers get this newsletter first AND they can laugh at exclusive typos that are later corrected in the archive version.