The Best of Jersey City issue!
Lots and lots of things to love about our city.
Woo hoo! The Best of Jersey City issue is finally here!
Last year, I asked a bunch of Jersey City folks what their “top five” favorite things in Jersey City were. This year, I did it again — with a new and different group (no repeats, which was hard because the list last year was really great) — but loosened up a bit on the “five” requirement. So many people wanted to do six, or seven, or more, I just decided to go with it. More love for JC is always appreciated!
Looking over the list, I can say if there’s one thing that’s true, people in Jersey City love their parks. Last year’s list was dominated by food; this time, it’s all about the parks — Liberty State Park leads the way with numerous nominations and shout-outs, but several other parks also make the list of the most beloved. I’m also seeing a ton more tiny, small businesses this year — fewer well-known JC brands, more up-and-comers or tiny hole-in-the-wall neighborhood faves. Which, sounds perfect to me.
I’m also happy to note that this year I opened this up to readers, in our Readers’ Choice section. This wound up to be super fun, and contained a bunch of great suggestions I never would have known about. Thank you so much to everyone who contributed!
I also love that so many individuals got shouted out this year. From Dawn Giambalvo of Canco Park to the amazing women who run Trap/Neuter/Release programs for our feral cats throughout Jersey City, it was so cool to see residents singled out as making our city great.
Lastly, I tried really hard to get a trifecta of likely JC mayoral candidates, inviting James Solomon, Bill O’Dea, and Jim McGreevey to participate. I never heard back from McGreevey — maybe I have the wrong email for him, or perhaps he hasn’t learned that I’m enough of a pain in the ass that he has to pay attention to me (!). Either way, if he’s reading this and would like to submit a list of his favorite things in JC, I’d be open to hearing them.
Anyway, maybe you’ll learn something new about this crazy city of ours from this list, or see a beloved place get the recognition it really needs. Either way, enjoy!
Kier (kid, age 6):
There's lots of interesting and great stuff and always something to do.
And family!
Especially big parks like Lincoln Park and Liberty State Park and Van Vorst Park and Hamilton Park.
In Lincoln Park, look at the fountains at the entrance and in the lake. Look at 1&9 and cross to the other side. If you have a lot of energy you can walk to the coast (of the river).
I like to go to a park and then have a treat. Van Vorst park and then Cocoa Bakery for cupcakes! Or walk to Torico for ice cream.
Kristin DeAngelis (Director of Community Outreach/Visitor Experience/Mana Contemporary)
The view from Riverview Park in Jersey City Heights: It. NEVER. Gets. Old. Never. I walk nearly every single weekday. I walk through the park. I snap a photo of the view. I story it. Follow me. You will see.
Liberty State Park: Bike. Walk. Sit. Daydream. Roll in the grass. Picnic. Fly a kite. Take a deep breath in. I always feel better leaving there.
My USPS mailperson Ray. Who loves their Mailperson - ME! Ray has since moved to another neighborhood. But years ago, he took care of me and my household when I worked from home. One ring for regular mail. Two rings for when my father-in-law got his meds delivered (so I would run down and get them for him). He would always wave to me when he saw me — and check in to make sure I was doing ok. Always made my day.
The chocolate chip cookies at the Coach [House] Diner. How could I possibly eat more after leaving this awesome diner - which I know is in North Bergen - BUT I take them to go to eat them at home in Jersey City. Little crispy... little more brown sugar than most. Perfect amount of chocolate chips. Like a small hug at the end of the day.
Clay Pigeon on WFMU... Wake and Bake weekdays... IYKYK.. I may talk more about Clay Pigeon and the genius of his show more than art. (pixie dust music should play here)
#seearteveryday.... I owned a gallery and work at Mana Contemporary... So of course seeing art is on the list.... street art under the overpass, art in lobbies, galleries, restaurant walls, parks, pop ups... the annual Jersey City Art & Studio Tour, JC Fridays, Art Fair 14C... something for everyone to enjoy.
Brigid D’Souza aka CivicParent
Best breakfast sandwich: Sam A.M. in Paulus Hook. I've been going there for years and their menu has been pretty much the same for years. The Classic Sandwich and The Garden Goddess Sandwich are delicious and fresh everytime. This place is consistently great.
Best thali: Vaibhav on Newark Ave. My husband and I go for thalis (Indian plates of multiple small dishes) on a weekly basis during the year and it’s a real treat. They have both a veg and non-veg menu and each is delicious. This food is as authentic as it gets especially for southern Indian food. They also offer great dosas.
Best Sunday breakfast: City Diner. This is a top notch diner with quick and efficient service and standard classics like pancakes, waffles, and French toast but also more atypical diner fare like a “loxed and loaded” bagel, a croque madam, and my favorite, a Greek quinoa bowl (offered under “Morning Favorites”.)
Favorite treat: Cantucci at Prato Bakery. Prato is a lovely spot on Newark & 4th Street. It’s super friendly to kids and families, the coffee is delicious, but Prato’s soft cantucci (aka biscotti) is the standout. My favorite is the chocolate chunk but they also offer dried fruits like fig and apricot. [Editor’s note: Brigid brought me these cookies one Christmas and I have never stopped talking about how delicious they are — they’re amazing!! — Amy]
One of my favorite spots in JC: At the statue of St. Ignatius chilling on a stone ledge in front of SPU’s student center on Glenwood between JFK and Bergen. I love how the statue portrays him as accessible, unpretentious, relaxed. You could miss him if you walk by and don’t know to look for him. The plaza overall is a bit of calm in the middle of the city and open to the public.
FYI This is a fun but informing overview of St Ignatius from Fairfield University, told from the perspective of an olive:
Kayla Burell (proud resident of the West Side and President of Lincoln Park North Neighborhood Association)
Best gift store: Raine n River Apothecary (299 Grove Street). As soon as I walked into this place, I knew it was special as it literally smells like magic. Natasha and her team are warm, knowledgeable, and generous in their suggestions. They have the best hand-blended teas & herbs for well-being and if you’re feeling a little woowoo, their books, smudging sticks, and workshops are filled with love and good intentions. Everything is beautifully packaged and I’m so glad this place exists.
Tastiest sandwich: The California Sub @ Mordi’s Sandwich Shop (320 Communipaw Ave). I love everything at Mordi’s, a casual place that serves handheld food with an Israeli twist, but the Cali Club with its classic ingredients combined with sumac pickled red onions and garlic lemon aoli, is my favorite sandwich in the city. It pairs perfectly with their mint lemonade.
Best live music: Moore’s Lounge on Sunday nights hosted by Winard Harper (189 Monticello Ave). This place is a gem. Cash only, friendly staff and patrons, and world-class performances from some great jazz and blues musicians. The style is like a jam session and you never know who’ll show up. One recent stand out performance was when tap dancer, Savion Glover, performed a set for us. Jaw-droppingly amazing!
Best community resource: Tatiana Smith has run the West Side Community Fridge (Delaware Ave north of Duncan) since 2020 and the COVID outbreak. As food prices rise, many households consistently depend on the fridge. Tatiana also does focused outreach like school supply giveaways and holiday events. She relies on donations from various restaurants and organizations in the city to keep the fridge stocked and can always use monetary donations for fridge maintenance and operating costs. Extra hands are welcome too— so if your kid needs community service hours, please consider volunteering.
Best way to have a hangover on Friday: Have a yummy dinner at Ita at 682 Bergen Ave (I recommend the burrata salad, Diavola pizza, and all their cocktails are amazing) then head next door to Carvao for karaoke. It’s really fun and laid back and you’ll hear a wide range of musical stylings from Selena, to Luther Vandross, to Nine Inch Nails.
Christopher Jefferson (Founder and President of Mysterious Ways JC)
Of all of my favorite things about Jersey City, I would have to say the non-profit community is my favorite. As costs increase and resources are depleted, the non-profit organizations of Jersey City step in to aid their fellow residents with food, supplies, seminars, and additional resources. Whether working alongside Rasheed Chambers of Ecode, Dr. Leeja Carter of the Coalition for Food and Health Equity, Lewis Spears of Kismet of Kings, or the Members of I Love Greenville, I can take pride in knowing that great efforts are being made to assist Jersey City residents.
The Jersey City Public Libraries are the most untapped community centers in Jersey City. From free tickets to museums, free rentals of laptops and wifi hotspots, to adult yoga classes, there is something for everyone in the family. Each library is filled with staff that make you feel like family everytime you walk through the doors.
The diverse culture of Jersey City makes it a hotspot for some of the best food in New Jersey. The Grandma Sicilian from Ginos in the heights is A-1, Honey Ginger naan and Paneer Tikka Masala at Clove Garden of India located downtown is a must try, and the Caribbean food and amazing service at Freetown Road near Journal Square will leave you smiling all day long.
Although I have only been a member for a few months, Jersey City Mua Thai led by Coach Paul provides a positive environment for anyone looking to work up a sweat and train. Coach Paul treats everyone like family whether you are one of his champion fighters or newbie on your first day. As a way to give back to his community, he offers free classes for local youth.
Lastly, Jersey City’s parks offer a sanctuary of peace in an otherwise busy city. You can enjoy the open space of Lincoln Park, Play on the courts of Berry Lane, or take in the amazing view at Riverview Park. Not to mention, each park has its own activities being held all year round ranging from live jazz to movies in the park. Be sure to check them out!
RentControlJC (tenants’ rights group, powered by the Portside Towers' Tenant Associations)
All the following are excellent public resources!
City Council meetings – THE place for the public to speak and be heard by their elected officials.
Jersey City’s OPRA platform – Obtain public records/documents that are not ordinarily available online.
Chapter 260 of the Jersey City Code of Ordinances – Every tenant in Jersey City should familiarize themselves with this chapter, which details the entirety of the rent control law. No, not all new construction is automatically exempt. Educate yourselves!
SeeClickFix – We love the ease of the platform intended to improve the quality of life for all Jersey City residents. The most comprehensive rent control inquiry post can be found here (Btw: the request was archived while still unresolved).
And finally, the single best thing in Jersey City are the tenants who reside at Portside Towers. We’ve become a tight community, on the right side of the law, fighting for ALL Jersey City tenants and their rights.
James Solomon (Councilman, Ward E)
When my then-girlfriend Gaby accepted a job offer in New Jersey, we began looking for places to live. One day, she called me and said, “I know where we’re going to live; I fucking love Jersey City.” So that’s where we went, and what a ride it has been. In the years since we came to call this place home, we’ve kept finding new things to love about Jersey City—and I remain inspired by the people who make this place home for so many of us.
Here are the top five things I love most about Jersey City:
Birthday Cakes from Carmen Rosa’s Bakery. A tradition - every birthday means a Carmen Rosa’s cake. Carmen and her daughter Vanessa are incredibly kind and generous to our girls when they pick this year’s princess to adorn the cake. And the cakes sublime - the icing, layers, and fruit filling (get the mango).
The breakfast sandwiches at Second Street Bakery. A hole-in-the-wall bakery tucked in the Village that has been operated by the Siniscalchi family for over a hundred years. Gino runs the kitchen and you are blessed if you catch great-grandmother Anna working the counter. Get everything but specifically Gaby’s order of eggs, ham, and provolone or mine of eggs, pepperoni and mutz.
The Poli Sci students at NJCU. From 2015 until recent budget pitfalls axed their adjunct budget, I’ve taught poli sci classes at NJCU. The students are rockstars. They often juggle work, family responsibilities and academics, something no decent society should ask them to do - and yet they do it. The tough conversations we have about feeling like Jersey City and Hudson County are being taken from them inspires my own agenda on the City Council.
Jacqueline Watson. Jacqueline Watson and I became friends after she deservedly roasted me for being late to a community meeting at Padua Court. She’s hysterical and we get to hear her latest jokes as we cross paths in the morning as I drop my kids off at daycare and she walks to morning prayers at Holy Rosary wearing the most glorious sun hats imaginable. She’s become my neighborhood grandmother - replete with sending my daily memes on Facebook.
The Maternity Ward at the Jersey City Medical Center. It’s cheesy - and, of course, my favorite place in Jersey City is the location where our three girls joined our family. They play “Here Comes The Sun” after each delivery on the intercom. Camila, Corinne, and Noelle joined us there - and they get super excited to spot the red letters on the building anytime we head to Liberty State Park.
William “Bill” O’Dea (Hudson County Commissioner, District 2)
Lincoln Park— you wouldn’t expect me to pick any other one lol
Liberty State Park— where else in the world can you throw a baseball to Ellis Island or a row boat to the Statue of Liberty?
Hamilton Park— well kept-well utilized (and years ago I coached a youth team in the park’s famous Summer League).
Washington Park— where as a kid I went to swim when I was in Summer CYO camp— the pool is long gone but park still ranks high.
Berry Lane Park— It offers a lot of great options for kids and adults.
Pershing Field Park— makes the list because of skating rink and pool.
Mercer Park— It has been upgraded and expanded in recent years- an underrated gem.
Sargeant Anthony Park— only because I played a lot of basketball there as a kid growing up on Baldwin Avenue.
Pavonia Park— Because it’s Summer and any park with a swimming pool deserves to be on the list.
Lafyette Park— same reason as Pavonia Park.
Katie Brennan (affordable housing advocate, Ward C resident)
Hip Fit: Taught at Grassroots Community Space, Laura is a goddess. It's like dancing at the club with the occasional squat. The BEST exercise. Not only is she a wildly talented dancer and great teacher but is also responsible for most of the hand lettering art around JC. Renaissance woman.
Flowers in Van Vorst Park: Perhaps obvious, but this is really delightful. The community, the characters that devote such love and care to this park are all gems. Nothing makes me happier than watching the flowers turn and bloom.
The Studio Tour: Now, unlike some of this newsletter's audience (and, notably, the author) I am not an artist. However, I would like to fancy myself a patron of the arts. I love the Studio Tour. I love the open houses at Mana. I love nothing more than wandering around and losing myself and everyone I came with.
Overzealous community groups: I love the very particular masochism of a community meeting. Neighborhood association? Love it. Development proposal? I'm there. I'm happy to suffer the NIMBYs and people who believe parking is a human right. One of the things I love best about JC is how accessible it is to be involved and have an impact. It's pretty amazing what you can accomplish by showing up.
The feta at the Egyptian bodegas: fresh feta, multiple kinds and salt intensities. What more could I want?
Jet skiing in the Hudson: Don’t knock it until you try it. True bliss.
Sol Azteca: You will not find a better burrito. We've tried them all. You will not. The Mexican quesadillas are also superb. Sol Azteca is the perfect weeknight takeout and seemingly delivers within seconds.
The egg and cheese on a croissant at Dolma: this is decadence. The highest and best use that butter has ever seen. It is warm, flakey, cheesy, perfection.
The shrimp sandwich at Morgan fish market: an ideal lunch. Pita, veggies, seasoned shrimp.
JC Bigfoot (mascot of the Jersey City Libraries)
The Jersey City Free Public Library. I’m a tad biased but I love books and learning and art and music and culture and cool people. Our libraries are filled with all that stuff and more, for free! #booksrule!
Jersey City Skies. According to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system, Jersey City has a humid, subtropical climate which produces the most wonderful clouds and lovely sunsets. Oo! And summer storms. Love those!
The Statue of Liberty. Sure, my friend, Berty, is always looking off to the east when she’s at work, but that’s just because she’s looking for people coming to this country to find a new life. Plus, Jersey City is literally the "Golden Door". How awesome is that? We’re poetry worthy.
Jersey City Parks. As a transplant to urban life, I need to feel green grass under my blue feet every once and a while. If you check out a map on the internets, you’ll see just how many parks Jersey City has… like dozens and dozens. Liberty State Park, Leonard Gordon, Lincoln Park, Van Vorst, Berry Lane, Pershing Field… I love all of them. Some have tiny libraries too. Win win.
Heaps O’ History! From the 200 million year old basalt cliffs we call the Palisades to hottest July on record (not pleasant for furry folks), this place is full of incredible stories. There are scholars and the Museum of Jersey City History and the Apple Tree House and the Loew’s Jersey Theatre and Harsimus Cemetery filled with historic information to absorb. And ghosts, probably… did you hear that? I think I freaked myself out… wait... yep, that’s a ghost, gotta go!
Amy Torres (Executive Director of New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice)
Second Street Bakery - specifically the chocolate bread. The whole bakery is a gem, made even better by the regulars and neighbors who go there. This is the only place I will tolerate men being chatty.
Grand Apollo Restaurant - standard Filipino steam tray joint but they do ginataang bilo bilo and if you go early enough, have a limited but excellent selection of dessert and kakanin.
Larry and Joe’s fresh garlic pie. - When shooting stars fall to earth, they become the tiny garlic mince that blesses this pizza.
Sri Ganesh Dosa House - one time I went here on a Valentine’s date and they yelled, “you’re always here, didn’t you want to go somewhere special?!” It’s my favorite spot.
Asian Food Market — Smaller of the Asian groceries but in my opinion, a better selection for SE Asian goods. They have a good Asian fresh fruit selection (not underripe!) and frozen food aisle. They also stock ube condensed milk!
Bill Matsikoudis (attorney; former corporation counsel)
Since this is not required to be about food, I felt like it would be superficial to wax poetic on cuisine. Plus, that would be hard for me because I have a hard time deciding what’s my favorite dish at my favorite places. Is it the burger or the corned beef sandwich at the Park Tavern? The Veal Francese or the Chicken Piccata at Laico’s? Lamb vindaloo or chicken tikka masala at Rasoi? Vanilla or chocolate at Milk Sugar Love? Speaking of ice cream maybe I am double dipping, but my five are:
People: Jersey City’s population is always changing, but I find our population to have a unique combo of grit and cultural flare. Maybe a working-class base combined with Manhattan proximity is the cause. JC people appreciate nice things, but don’t mess with them.
Diversity: The extraordinary diversity of Jersey City, and the fact that people from so many different places and cultures live here in relative harmony, is a daily inspiration. Not to mention, the amazing diversity of Jersey City makes it really interesting.
Parks: My love affair with Jersey City is irrational. I could be walking along a dirty sidewalk inhaling bus fumes, listening to loud music from passing cars and looking at a beat-up old building, and feel nothing but love. However, one thing that we have that is objectively beautiful is a great park system. And it’s only getting better. Whether it’s our bookend jewels of Liberty State Park to the east and Lincoln Park to the west, or the small parks like Bayview Park in Greenville to Van Vorst Park Downtown to Riverview Park in the Heights, just to name a few, we have a lot of beautiful green spaces. I’m also looking forward to the completion of the Reservoir, Skyway Park, Courthouse Park and the 6 th Street Embankment, which will truly make our park system world-class
History: We have a rich history going back to Lenape Native Americans, then the Dutch and the subsequent waves of migrants from all around the world and America. It’s something we should cherish and remember.
Politics: Politics seems to be a greater focus of attention in Jersey City than it is in most places, and some say it beats baseball as the Jersey City pastime. People still remember and talk about Mayor Frank Hague, who left this earth more than 70 years ago. JC politics can be ugly, but it’s always interesting.
Reader’s choice!
Steve Z (The Heights, formerly Downtown)
El Ranchero on 2nd street downtown. Best Mexican in the city and the staff are so warm and friendly. My family’s been going there weekly almost since it opened and every time we’re there they greet us by name, know our orders, and even take the time from their busy nights to keep our toddler entertained.
Anne Kassalow (West Side)
JC Dance Academy — awesome dance school that is inclusive, relatively affordable, and offers classes for kids ages 3+, and adult classes! Never thought I would be a dance mom but I’m proud to be a JCDA dance mom!
Frankie G. (Lower Heights)
General Pencil Company - they've been making pencils in Jersey City for over 130 years! They've been able to stave off developers to keep making their artist's pencils, charcoals and more in a quiet neighborhood (soon to be booming neighborhood with the new courthouse and crazy rampant development of luxury rentals all around). They are all very nice people at the facility (although they are always getting requests for tours and such, especially after they're mentioned in news stories, and can't accommodate it all since they're an old, operating factory). They most recently notably collaborated with NJ Skateshop on a pencil that's included with their JC New Balance shoes. It's just cool to have such a gem in the middle of the city. Hopefully they're not ever forced out by the city to make way for more luxury rentals.
Tanya Tripi-Weiss (Downtown)
Balance Salon and the entire staff and regulars. Carla and company have been providing one of the last remaining bastions of weird and Queer in a non corporate way in downtown forever. From the great art by Vincent to Dolly’s personal style there has never been a time that even being on the same block as Balance Salon didn’t make me smile.
Allison G. (Downtown)
Van Vorst Park — a true, compact slice of nature nestled in downtown JC, with something for everyone! Dog park, children's playground, chessboard tables, and the best bird fountain in the whole NYC area.
Ally S. (The Heights)
Summer Heights Bocce Club - Friday night social club in Riverview Park. SHBC was the first place I met new folks in JC when I moved here a year ago. I never lived in another city that made it so easy to meet new friends like this. Love JC, love SHBC!
Joel Brooks (McGinley square)
Best view no one knows about — western end of Duncan Ave. (At your own risk) cross 440 on Duncan. Go past the gas station, truck depots, golf course and County building...there is a one of a kind view of the Pulaski Skyway, Kearny industrial area and to the south, the 78 extension. Almost never anyone there - great solitary place to ponder the world, and the mega engineering projects feeding into NYC. Also there is a metal canoe locked up there - whose is this?!? Great Jersey City mystery. If you're feeling extra adventurous, wall along the walls and water south - the shore links up with Lincoln Park West. You'll see crabs washed up on the shore.
Sara (West Side/Lincoln Park)
Robinson Holloway (The Village)
Liberty State Park when it opens to the public at 6 AM. Even in summer it's relatively empty of people, with just a few bikers, runners and walkers - but the birds and animals are plentiful and active. During winter 6 AM is very dark, so it feels as though the park is just for you and the skunks - and as the morning progresses the sun rises from behind the Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty and turns everything pink, orange and gold.
Beth Marshall (West Side)
Best Ghost Carnivals: Lincoln Park. Look, I realize some of them are associated with organizations, but I think we can all agree that most of the carnivals that show up in Lincoln Park are out there by ghosts. They arrive silently, without warning, and depart just as abruptly. They don’t advertise them because ghosts don’t do social. Or fence banners. Who else could bypass the paperwork to have an event in the park? The loving remnants of former citizens of West Side, that’s who. If they’re not run by ghosts my second guess is they’re run by raccoons. But I really think its ghosts.
Shirin M. (McGinley Sq)
Biking the waterfront path through Liberty State Park.
Kayt Hester (West Side)
The TNR [Trap, Neuter, Release] ladies of Jersey City. APurrfectJC, Carol McNichol of Companion Animal Trust, Kathleen O’Malley, Neelima Sapre, Beth Dalem, and there’s more! These ladies dedicate and donate literally all their spare time into controlling and feeding JC’s feral cat population. These ladies deserve some sort of recognition and praise.
Will Vandenberg (Paulus Hook (but don’t hold it against me lol)
Bartender: Keti at Harry’s Daughter. Keti is awesomely friendly and lots of fun, always ready with a shot for regulars, and quick on the draw for another round of Harry’s Daughter’s epically good rum punches. Be careful though: they will sneak up on you and then the night (or afternoon) can take interesting turns across Jersey City!
The Grind Shop in Bergen-Lafayette. The Grind is a coffeeshop and a movement, uniting Jersey Citians from across the neighborhoods with great coffee, pastries, merch, and energy. Since its OG coffeeshop, The Grind has opened The Grind General Store, a well curated market down the street on Communipaw, and also The Grind Outpost at Berry Lane Park, an area which really needs more options for quality food and drink. The Grind’s cross-promotions with tattoo parlors, weed companies, old school/restored clothes shops, and DJs bring new options to a changing neighborhood. And it’s running club draws a diverse mix of people for early morning runs throughout the week. Like I said, it’s a coffeeshop and a movement…grindcoffeejc.com
Lindsey M (The Heights)
Dawn Giambalvo [of Canco Park Conservancy]. A true JC force of nature! Watching her work to build community and make our city greener (and more stylish!) has been a lesson in assertive and focused intention. Canco Park, the green space outside the supremo, and countless other ways she makes our community better, sassier, and more wonderful.
Matt G. (The Heights)
Tacos al pastor from Taquitos Mexicanos. You can find them at the corner of Congress St and New York Ave (outside Lee's Liquors, 45 Congress St) in the Heights. Hours vary.
Linnie G. (Bergen-Lafayette)
A dusky walk between Bergen-Lafayette and downtown, over the Liberty State Park light rail tracks and the canal footbridge, where you can crush 3-35 lanternflys en route and sometimes glimpse a swan amidst all the boats and runners.
Does Governor McGreevey live in JC?