Yes. Not sure if Domenic sold to the current owners or if there was someone else in between. But he opened the original place.

I lived around the corner when this place opened, and it was magic in those early years when Domenic Santana was running it. Really brought a blast of needed energy to Grove Street.

Happy to have those memories.

For your budget & other requirements, best neighborhoods are likely the Heights, McGinley Square, Westside, Bergen Lafayette.

Parking is notoriously difficult in the Heights, so you might consider budgeting $150-200/mo for an off-street spot if that's the neighborhood you choose.

ETA: just saw some of OP's responses to other posts. Heights would definitely be the most convenient option.

Tru dat. But I don't think this is a case where Murphy has to approve this specific DEP plan - the way he'd sign a bill. Control over DEP comes through initially appointing a leader who (presumably) aligns with his agenda, and then having the ability to fire (or threaten to fire) that person.

Maybe I'm splitting hairs with that distinction, but I understand now why LaTourette kept his head down when Fireman's proposal came through the legislature last year.

My guess was states with higher-cost insurance would have more / higher-cost claims to pay out... or a regulatory environment that allows insurance companies to gouge their customers to increase profits.

I'm not in that business, but know money talks, bullshit walks.

Glad NJ has front plates... our car insurance is expensive enough already!

Very interesting that the difference in insurance costs is $170/year between states that require a front plate, and those that don't. OK, "only" 8%, but $170 is a decent chunk of change.

What's really weird is that many of the "no front plate" states are low cost-of-living states. Seems like that would help push insurance rates down, right?

Team Front Plate has NJ, NY, CA, MA - all of New England and the west coast - notoriously high COL parts of the country - lots of bureaucracy, regulations etc. Yet the average insurance premiums are $170/year less among this cohort.

Honestly I was surprised by this data. What do you think explains it?

Where’s that tunnel / mall kid when we need him?!? We could get an Apple Store down in the tunnel!

I'm all for holding ADG accountable for her actions, but this dude died. Maybe not the time for a joke.

RIP to the victim and hope the driver / killer is caught.

ETA: maybe I didn't make it clear, I think ADG is not fit for office. She should have resigned right after the circumstances of the crash became public last year. She's lost of the trust of her constituents and brought shame to our city: a home-grown villain we can't get rid of.

I love an Amy joke as much as the next person - but maybe when someone's life has been lost is not the best moment for it?

We should be furious about deaths like this our city. Don't let the Amy meme distract from that fury.

Let's hope justice is served for this man's family.

Another vote for Jersey Cats, Pad Paws, and Next Chance Rescue. All great groups that I've fostered for / supported.

OP - please stay local with your foster / adoption if you can.

>I'm weighing selling the car and moving to Manhattan.

Note the title of the post: "Move to NYC worth it?"

I suggested Hoboken as a car-free alternative to UES. Rents are probably similar. OP mentioned Italian food & culture, and Hoboken certainly has that. Pretty great access to NYC and plenty of 20-somethings looking to socialize.

If you have a counter-point on Hoboken / UES / Nutley etc, or another option you'd like to suggest, I'm sure OP would appreciate it.

Ditch the car & get a place in Hoboken or Manhattan.

ETA: downtown Jersey City is also pretty fun/viable w/o a car, but I think Hoboken might be more of the vibe you're looking for.

Please.

Everyone knows only Mayor Fulop swims in the Hudson. /s

ETA: added /s

Also, link for anyone who doesn't know what I'm talking about:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/steve-fulop-jersey-city_n_2768469

Nice background, thanks!

It's been great to see new restaurants open on that stretch of Bergen the last few years: Cavaro, ITA, Krewe, Crema. Hopefully more to come.

I wish this place success.

Cool to read the 1975 NY Times review of the original Alps in McGinley Square. That building on Bergen (across Fairmount from Wonder Bagel) had been boarded up for many years when I moved nearby 15 years ago, but it looked like it had been a fancy place at one point. Glad that lot is finally being redeveloped with an appropriate-scale residential building.

Miss that place! 😢

Thanks for your service to the LUXURY community!

I don't see a weight marked on the tin in the original post and sadly don't have one in my possession, but the shelf label indicates 275g (so similar to a 10 ounce bag of non-luxury chips).

So the tin itself seems to be an expression of pure LUXURY. For $15 more than the cost of chips in bags, I guess that's a good value if that's what you're after?

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Not OP, but I have a good friend with a family member with MS - and they (friend) mask up / take extra precautions. Guessing anyone with an immune condition or taking immunosuppressant meds (or living with someone who is) would still be careful.

+1 on Boulevard Drinks.

The Tube Bar stories are great, but the physical location has been gone for almost 20 years.

Loew's (and Stanley) are cool - but only really a facade you can see from the outside - at least right now.

Boulevard Drinks you can actually go get the whole experience right now almost any time for $3.50 - and get a taste of that history.

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Teddy on the PATH

Thanks for posting... hadn't heard about this. Will try to make the workshop on 3/2.

Sorry to see you get so many downvotes on your reply to my question. I know you're a regular in this sub & hope you can get some useful intel.

I don't have any specific advice about rents / math to make that kind of investment work, or not.

I've lived a few blocks north of Communipaw near West Side for many years. My little pocket of the neighborhood has always felt very safe. I'm not on the streets south of Communipaw every day, but my take is it's more block-by-block: some good spots with folks looking out for each other; some spots with drug deals & shady stuff going on.

My guess is that over the next 10+ years there will be more investment in properties within walking distance of the West Side light rail station. The place you're looking to buy isn't super close to Bayfront - but businesses all along Westside should get a boost from that development.

Can you clarify: are you thinking about buying a 2-family and living there (and renting out the other unit)? Or purchasing an investment property you won't live in?

If you go mid-week, the High Bridge station is very close to the Columbia Trail, and the Mount Olive station is close to the Sussex Branch Trail (which connects with the Paulinskill Valley Trail).

Unfortunately NJ Transit doesn't run service to those stations on weekends... and service during the week in the direction you'd need for a ride is pretty limited.

The Columbia Trail is beautiful: highly recommend.

Another option would be to get your buddies from Philly to come up and roll that shit outta there.

You can call Parking Authority & have the car ticketed. If your car is blocked in the driveway, they will also have the car towed. If you're just trying to get in (not blocked getting out) they won't tow - only ticket.