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October 30, 2006
Flag at JFK Median
October 25, 2006
Demo Site
October 23, 2006
Destination JC Signs
It appears that work on the Destination JC signs has been temporarily delayed. The contractors who are installing the signs have placed wood planks over the work areas in some places.
October 21, 2006
Beck returns to his Jersey City beginnings, draws sell-out crowd
Review By THOMAS MULLARNEY
It was Beck's appreciative reference to White Castle, and his proud proclamation to the audience that "Jersey City was the first place I recorded," that made the alternative rock superstar feel right at home Saturday night in the Landmark Loew's Jersey Theatre on Journal Square.
When Beck announced he was going to play at the Loew's, many Jersey City music fans recollected past blow-out rock shows at the 77-year-old theater, including a performance last year by Bright Eyes and last week's by Yo La Tengo. It is somewhat disheartening that more illustrious artists don't come to such a classic and eclectic theater, which Saturday night proved to be a quite personal venue for such a big-name musician as Beck. His two-hour set convinced me that Beck appreciated being in Jersey City just as much as I and the 1,500 other people in attendance at the sold-out show did.
When the lights turned down just after 9 p.m., the ripping guitar of "Loser," the song that put the L.A.-born vagrant on the rock scene more than 10 years ago, blazed through the speakers. Beck, clad in a tuxedo and red bow tie, and his equally festively dressed band mates serenaded us with "I'm a loser baby, so why don't you kill me?" as six puppets portraying each of the musicians appeared on stage.
Beck was relentless in his opening, making songs culled from 10 years of albums sound like one long mix tape. The puppets accompanied Beck throughout most of the show, providing mild entertainment as they imitated the band's performance on a massive screen behind the stage. Equally entertaining was Beck's skilled and tight backup band, which managed to round out Beck's truly complicated layers and tracks.
Beck is in many ways an unclassifiable artist, incorporating genres ranging from hip-hop to rock to electronic to pop to indie into his music. The crowd he brought into the Loew's was just as diverse, and he seemed to be playing a song for everyone. His emotionally stirring "Paper Tiger" entranced the audience with its somber yet electrifying tone, whereas fan favorite "Tropicalia," a salsa-esque tune, had the audience breaking down their favorite dance moves.
The new songs he introduced off of his recently released album "The Information" were well implemented and sat perfectly in his already brilliantly developed lineup. Often, and specifically off this new album, Beck's music suggests a paradox in emotion and thoughts. He can bring the audience into an upbeat and almost teenage whirl with the catchy "I Think I'm In Love," yet he also stirs up thought and contemplation with his borderline morbid social commentary. For example, in "Cell Phone's Dead," in which Beck satirically sings: "There's people phonin' in like it's unlimited minutes, going through the motions just to say that they did it."
As Beck's two-hour set began winding down, his band members took seats on the stage to enjoy dinner as Beck sung a myriad of acoustic tunes. For some time, there was an obvious wave of confusion in the audience as Beck's professional "dancer" served the other band mates chicken salad until five or six tracks into his acoustic set, when faint sounds of percussion began emanating through the speakers. As the bangs and clicks grew louder it became obvious they were coming from the silverware on the table on which the band was having dinner.
As the sporadic and hectic taps of the forks and knives in the hands of the band mates fell more and more in time with Beck's "Clap Hands," the audience couldn't help but groove to the now-elegant sound of silverware. It was a comical, entertaining nuance that exemplified his ability as a genuine performer.
The show's true highlight was his exhilarating encore finale, which began with a video projection of Beck's puppets wreaking havoc on Jersey City. Shots of the puppets enjoying White Castle, or attempting to cross Jersey Avenue, were fun and gratifying. Other Jersey City imagery and even a shot of The Jersey Journal's building sign were met with massive applause. Almost as much applause as when the film ended and Beck advanced back onto the stage dressed in a large teddy bear costume for his quirky hip-hop track "1000bpm."
Beck's finisher was a bona-fide, jump-out-of-your-seats rock-and-roll extended version of the "Guero" number one single "E-Pro." After Beck put down his guitar and waved, there was an overwhelming feeling that the imaginative celebrity had fun in our city for the night - a sentiment welcomed by residents and non-residents alike, because we did, too.
© 2006 The Jersey Journal
© 2006 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.
October 20, 2006
Graffiti on Bergen Avenue
This Weekend in Journal Square
The Jersey City Studio Arts Tour comes to Journal Square this weekend with live performances and art work Friday through Sunday at the Loews Theater. Saturday night the Loews will feature the music artist Beck.
CH Martin
Wednesday: SID Off-Duty Police responded to a shoplifting call from CH Martin. After a brief physical altercation with one of the staff members the alleged shoplifter quickly fled the store. A description of the actor was given to Police.
October 19, 2006
Hallmark/HT Wireless
Hallmark and HT Wireless appear to be sharing the space at 15 JSQ.
October 18, 2006
The 'new' Journal Square takes another step forward
City says two properties to be seized through eminent domain
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
Within 30 days, two buildings standing in the way of a two-tower development in the heart of Journal Square in Jersey City will be seized by the city through eminent domain and transferred to the developer, a city official said yesterday.
The acquisition of the third and final building is delayed because the property owner needs time to hire a lawyer, said Robert Antonicello, executive director of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency.
The two buildings in the process of being condemned are 12 and 14 Journal Square, respectively the sites of a former Wendy's and a current Kentucky Fried Chicken.
The third building slated to be taken, 15-16 Journal Square, houses four businesses - a McDonald's, Song's Hallmark, HT Wireless and a dentist's office.
"We're losing customers because they're not sure if we're going to be around," said Mohamad Abushaar, the manager of HT Wireless. "It (relocation and redevelopment plans) has everybody so mixed up, so confused."
Collectively, the buildings represent the only properties on the block next to the Journal Square Transportation Center not already sold to or under contract to be sold to Harwood Properties, the Jersey City firm designated to build two mixed-use towers on the site.
"We have filed with the court to pursue the condemnation," Antonicello said yesterday. "The money (to purchase the building) has been posted in the courts. The agency would buy them and then convey them to the Harwoods."
The purchase prices are based on appraisals the agency had conducted. According to those assessments 12 Journal Square is worth $1.5 million, 14 Journal Square $1.2 million, and 15-16 Journal Square $2.5 million.
According to the development agreement Harwood Properties inked with the city in May, the company is on the hook to reimburse the city whatever money it shells out to buy the buildings.
The building owners, who couldn't be reached yesterday to comment, are free to contest these building appraisals in court, but that won't hold up the condemnations, Antonicello explained. The court cases can proceed even as the buildings are being demolished, he said.
Harwood Properties is under contract to buy the other properties still standing on that block before the year is out - 1-7 Journal Square, Antonicello said.
The two businesses still in operation there - Three Brothers Pizza and Daily Tortillas - either will have to be evicted by the current owner, New York investor Ralph Tawil Jr., or the future owner, Harwood Properties, officials said.
© 2006 The Jersey Journal
© 2006 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.
October 16, 2006
BECK AT THE LOEWS THEATER!
Beck will be performing at the Landmark Loews Theater on Saturday, October 21. Doors Open at 7:00 pm, tickets can be purchased at www.ticketweb.com
Beck Hansen (born Bek David Campbell, July 8, 1970) is an American musician, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. Beck's music—with its pop-junk culture collage of musical styles, oblique, ironic lyrics, and post-modern arrangements incorporating samples, drum machines, live instrumentation and heady sound effects—was hailed by critics and public as among the most idiosyncratic of '90s alternative rock.
Although Beck's work defied easy description, his eclecticism and genre experiments sparked comparisons with Prince, though Beck was undoubtedly a less prolific artist and drew on an absurdist, free-flowing lyrical style that was totally original when first exposed to mainstream audiences. Despite this individualism, Beck's music was very much a product of the '90s and the media age in general, with hip hop, indie/underground rock, electronic music and genre-benders like the Beastie Boys as notable touchstones; in addition, some critics could not resist likening his head-spinning lyrical aesthetic to a post-modern Bob Dylan sensibility.
Quiznos Grand Opening
Quiznos will be having their grand opening tomorrow!
Destination Jersey City
Destination Jersey City signage to be placed on PA Property:
October 12, 2006
Destination JC Signage
October 11, 2006
Wayfinding Signage
New wayfinding signs being installed in the plaza area.
October 9, 2006
Navratri 2006
PA Water Main Repair
Repairs to plaza area performed by Port Authority.
October 6, 2006
Water Main Repair
This morning the P.A. began its work to repair the water main near the south staircase.
Early Morning
Click images to enlarge them
Early morning images from today...no homeless bedding down in the kiosk area....A McDonald's employee washes down the sidewalk in preparation for the breakfast crowd.
Other clean areas: 1 Journal Square Plaza and Stanley Theater:
Security guards at 1 Journal Square Plaza report significant decrease in homeless activity in the last 2 weeks, especially in the last few days during which time they've observed no activity.
October 5, 2006
Ordinance Violation
At 5:45pm this afternoon Mamad Asad, a previous offender of the new peddling ordinance was observed setting up shop in front of 865 Bergen Avenue. Upon discovery I requested that a summons be issued, ..P.O. Sonny Silver responded to the scene and issued the summons.
Building on Tonnelle Ave. Demolished
A former SRO building just off the corner of Kennedy Blvd. and Tonnelle Avenue was demolished yesterday.
Bergen Ave. Streetscape/ Street Closure
The southbound lane of Bergen Avenue will be closed from 7am-3:30pm today and tomorrow to allow for safer pedestrian passage along the street.
October 4, 2006
Police on Post
P.O. Dave Valente and P.O. Dave Rodgers stand on post this morning keeping an eye out for any quality of life issues or ordinance violations.
35 Journal Square Web Cam
Credits: Special thanks to Sackman Enterprises Inc. for the use of 35 Journal Square as our camera and internet host.
October 3, 2006
New Cigarette Butt Receptacles at Chubb Institute
Navratri Festival
The second week of the Navratri Festival starts on Friday!
Illustrated below, festival particpants dance in a large circle last week as part of the Navratri Celebration.
October 2, 2006
PA Main Repair
