Celebrity Backers & Linebackers
Plus supper club, a new farmer's market, a pool you can join — and more!
Can you even believe Weehawken is getting a farmer’s market, a pool bubble, and a supper club? All the details are below. But also, Weehawken has some kind of thingy in a park! What kind of thingy in a park? Not sure. You tell us. Here’s the thing that landed recently in “Garden Park” on Park Avenue:
It’s on a pallet, and after days of rain some of the cardboard dissolved, revealing a vessel of some sort. We don’t know what it is. We called someone in a town department to ask when it will be open but the person didn’t know, and we don’t want to call them out for not knowing. So we thought why not ask you, the people, and then we’ll see who’s right someday. Here’s the poll:
Speaking of parks and rec, have you seen the first look at what it’s like inside the Weehawken pool bubble? Check it:
Yes of course it’s coming down for the summer, and we have no idea what the schedule or plan is for fall (yes we called but again, no details), but we have faith it’s going to happen and this is something we’ve dreamed about for a long time. Currently the Weehawken kids on swim team were leaving before dawn to practice and maybe this is the year they can be like most other sports and have after-school practice. Also, selfishly, we are psyched for (possible) adult lap pool hours.
Update after publish: the day after we published this, the town of Weehawken posted more details about the bubble on their Facebook page. Their update from the evening of 5/13 is good news and reads, in part:
“The bubble was recently installed and temporarily inflated to test its structure, installation, and performance. Everything checked out, and we are proud to say this enhancement will support year-round use of the lap pool, including: Family swim time, swim team practices and meets, and rentals by outside swim teams.
As we prepare for the anticipated opening of the summer swim season on May 24, 2025 (weekends only until June 21, 2025), the bubble is now being taken down.
The bubble is scheduled to return in September, after the regular season ends, extending lap pool access well into the fall and winter.
$plash Out On A North Bergen Pool Membership?
Speaking of pools, Weehawken pool registration opened way back in February and sold out before May. But if you missed out, the North Bergen pool is having people register now. There are early rates, regular rates for residents, and different rates for non-residents. Thing is, it’s more expensive than the Weehawken pool complex, and in some cases, a lot more. For example, two adults who are North Bergen residents can get a membership for $257-299 depending on when they register. In Weehawken, two residents would pay $200.
Also, in Weehawken, kids 17 and under are free. This makes a big difference. A Hoboken family of four only pays $400 for their Weehawken pool membership, but the same family would need to lay down $750 for the North Bergen pool.
Anyway, when it’s boiling hot out you just want to dive in. So if the Weehawken pool froze you out, this is for you: here’s the application for North Bergen pool membership. But at these prices? Maybe you just wanna get a volcanic sand bath at SoJu spa instead.
Cory Books It To Weehawken
There was a fundraiser for NJ senator Cory Booker on May 3rd in Weehawken hosted by NY Giants linebacker and captain Bobby Okereke. Evidence of the event can be seen below, from Quinton Law, the young mayor of Moorestown, NJ. Looks like they got beautiful weather and quite the turnout. We didn’t have the scratch to attend — tickets started at more than a non-resident family membership to the Weehawken pool — but yeah, we support the effort. Private to Mr. Booker, you are always welcome to visit Weehawken Gazette HQ, and snacks will be provided free of charge.
Related: There’s a very competitive primary election coming up in NJ. But according to a poll, only 4% of NJ voters know when the primaries are happening. 😬
The primaries are June 10. Now you know. You have until May 20 to register to vote. Go to the NJ Voter Information Portal to register or to ensure you are registered.
Read more: This year, the NJ primary is actually competitive for a change. Get out and vote by Julia Sass Rubin, Bergen Record
What The Truck, Edgewater?!
Got a little kid who loves big machines with wheels? If so, this 2nd annual free event from the Edgewater D.P.W. is a no brainer. Flier below but just in case you don’t read fine print, note that it’s Tuesday May 20 at 4P with a rain date two days later on Thursday the 22nd. Related: Sunday June 8 there’s a vintage and classic car event in Hoboken, also free, and it also has a not-obvious rain date that’s 6 days later. Details on that are here.
Weehawken Farmer’s Market Is A Thing!
How crazy is this: we’re getting a farmer’s market that will bounce upcliff and down depending on the week. The kickoff is Lincoln Harbor Park (near Chart House where the larger summer concerts happen) Wednesday May 21 from 3P-7P. For this first one there’s also some free fitness offerings, promise of giveaways and a DJ. Then the market moves up to Hamilton Park for the 28th of May, and so on.
Some of the vendors we are most excited for are:
Pickle Licious, a NJ staple of outdoor markets for about 30 years.
Sourdough Society, because they’re new, in Jersey City, and we’ve yet to try them.
And The French Board who, until last month, had a high-end cheese shop inside the uptown Hoboken Choc O Pain.
You can learn more at the website: weehawkenfarmersmarket.com — but FYI the site is probably still a work in progress. The maps are off, for example, and show locations reversed: It shows Hamilton Park pinned on the map for Lincoln Harbor, and vice versa. Whatever, it’ll all iron out, and we’ll see ya there.
You Simply Must Go To Supper Club, Dahling 💅
We wrote about Lorraine’s Table, a weekly local meal delivery service here back in March. Thing is, they also run a Supper Club. They’ve been doing it since 2010, but previously it was in Rutherford. It’s only been in Weehawken since the pandemic. The next one is June 7, at the Elks club, and as you see from above, $125 gets you passed hors d’oeuvres, a 4-course meal, drinks, specialty cocktail and tip included, so there’s no hidden charges. The skyline view is also included and it’s a neat way to meet your neighbors. The max number of seats is 60, and this will sell out, so get on it now. Also to note: The upcoming Supper Club menu is here and it’s impressive as always, but there are no substitutions, so check the menu and if you don’t like the offerings, wait for the next one. See the post above on how to reserve your spot by phone or email.
🩲In Brief
MOKAFÉ’s newest location is 600 Harbor Blvd in Weehawken, NJ. Looks super pretty, but it’s right on the water and those venues are either really appealing, or can make you feel the-floor-is-moving seasick.
Dharma Indian Bistro is brand new at 1040 River Road in Edgewater, NJ. They’re in the old Lobster Shack space, and apparently they’re open.
What’s not new but very noteworthy? Brightside Tavern in Jersey City does a much-loved Jazz night every Monday from 7-11P — and they’ve been doing it for the past 10 years.
Friday May 16: Local educator, accomplished musician and performer Donna Hochhauser performs in a duo called “Two for the Road” from 5-7P at The Office, a bar and restaurant in Guttenberg. “From classic rock anthems to modern country hits, they’re bringing the perfect soundtrack to your Friday night.”
RIP Rudy Bram
Weehawken’s 63 Highwood Terrace was crazy odd or super artful, depending on who you ask. We say it was both. Rudolph Bram, age 96, passed away April 12, 2024, and his house was sold and then stripped of its outdoor treasures in April of this year. Here’s an article we found about his unique house in The NY Times from August, 1996: A Man's Home Is His Castle -- Er, Art Project .
Much love to all who knew him, and here’s some pictures we took about 10 years ago. We didn’t know him personally, but want to say thank you Rudy, for making your home a feast for the eyes, and for making our neighborhood way more interesting.
🎵 Every Time We Say Goodbye…
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Susie Felber
Weehawken Gazette
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Weehawken, NJ 07086
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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.
Wow! Hey, hey, Susie! Thanks for the shout out about Two for the Road playing The Office this Friday, May 16! My friend Judy Bro shared it with me and the rest of the Board of Weehawken's United Childrens Music Project at our meeting tonight to encourage them to come see me play, which was very nice, and she also informed us about you & the W Gazette to which I have just subscribed. :)
PS The "Hubcap House," as my boys always called the house on Highwood, is also written about in the book Weird New Jersey, part of the Weird USA series. :)