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CONTENTS

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .............................................................................. ...............................................................................

FEATURE

ROLLER GIRLS RULE

RAVES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40-48 BRIEF HISTORY

LEMON DROP DAYS

FROM EARTH AND SEA

MORPHING METAL

CRAB-TASTIC

HERITAGE

hLIFE

FACES

ARTIST FEATURE .. 60

HOBOKEN AT PLAY

............................

MIKE GOLDSTEIN

KARYN KUHL

EVENT PIX ........... 54-57

hNOW .......................... 62

WE WERE THERE

WINTER BENEFIT

OUT OF DODGE ..... 58 ISLAND LIVING

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ON THE BETTER WATERFRONT

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

A TERRIFIC JOURNEY When I think back to when I started at hMAG I remember the buzz that was going around Hoboken about a new publication and the guys who ran it.They were known for terrific parties that always included live music and a great local charity. I met Publisher Joe Mindak at one of the mixers and later became the editor of hMAG. Three years have passed since that meeting. While I still think the parties are great, I think I am most impressed that the community of Hoboken continues to show support. hMAG has grown. I feel fortunate to have worked with so many outstanding people. The writers and photographers who have contributed to hMAG have all made a lasting impression. River Clark captures women at their best and Robert Wagner elevates even a building to a work of art. And newcomer Sherry Ruczynski creates a story with her pictures. And of course, where would I be without the talented writers? Jessica Rosero and Alan Skontra have covered Hoboken for years and the stories they wrote continue to inspire me. Founding Editor Chris Halleron reminds me to laugh.Thank you Chris for your gift of laughter. But they are only a few of the talented crew who are part of the hMAG family.

photographer t. bish

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I think of the stories we have covered about brilliant or funny Hoboken people. Artie Lange remains one of the funniest and most honest men I have ever met. He is brave when talking about his addictions and recovery and braver still to let the hMAG crew into his home for a photo shoot. That cover shoot

by Steve Berrebi was amazing. Thank you Artie for letting us in your world! But Artie Lange is only one of the terrific stories we have covered. There is Memorial Man Jack O’Brien, the Hoboken MCs, iron worker Mike O’Reilly, the artists of Hoboken, fashion cover model Dianne Yurek, and countless others.These stories remind me to live an authentic life. The beat goes on. While I am leaving, hMAG will continue to inspire readers. I’m happy to introduce Noelle Tate who is the new editor at hMAG. She promises to bring new life and talent to our magazine. Thank you Hoboken! I am so glad I went on this journey. Enthusiastically yours, Diana Schwaeble – Editor & all of the hMAG Team

FROM OUR READERS Dear Diana and Jessica, Great article about Hoboken galleries in hMAG. Thanks for including hob’art gallery and my artwork. We do appreciate your support of the arts in this city . – Roslyn

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CONTRIBUTORS & CREDITS

RANDI E. ROBERTS

SHERRY RUCZYNSKI

Writer rerinrob@gmail.com

Photographer www.photofervor.com

Randi Roberts, Hoboken born and raised, is a food blogger and photographer. She has a BA in Art History and a Master’s in Art and a consuming interest in aesthetics, art, fashion, and most of all food. On her blog, foodiventure.blogspot.com, she shares her food experiences from recipes, dining in and out, and her take on food trends.

Sherry Ruczynski, a self-taught photographer, is a nine time FWA-One-Photo-a-Day winner and has showcased work in 23 gallery showings, selling 283 photos in under three years. Although urban landscape is her favorite thing to shoot, she has covered fashion shows, conventions, benefits, weddings, and more.

hMAG/HOBOKEN PUBLICATIONS 80 River Street, Penthouse Nor th, Hoboken, NJ 07030 201.916.3448/201.410.8282 • info@hmag.com • www.hmag.com

hMAG JOE MINDAK publisher/co-founder

KEVIN CALE CCO/co-founder

SIMON DABKOWSKI web director/co-owner

SANG LEE (1966-

2010), ar t director BRITTNEY HANLON ar t director

EDITORIAL DIANA SCHWAEBLE editor, diana@hmag.com

ADVERTISING ELIZABETH BARRY business development, elizabeth@hmag.com

CREATIVE TISHA CREATIVE, LLC Tisha Creative, LLC, 201.410.8282,

info@tishacreative.com, www.tishacreative.com

RIVER CLARK Photographer www.riverclark.com River Clark has been in the business for over 20 years as a photographer, filmmaker and artist. His work can be seen in virtually every known American magazine including: Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Sports Illustrated, Maxim, Marie Claire, and Playboy. He believes that beautiful moments happen all the time; it’s an artist’s job to capture them.

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JACK SILBERT Writer jack.silbert@gmail.com Jack is a writer, editor, internet-radio DJ, and frequent master of ceremonies. He is the author of several books and his ar ticles have appeared everywhere from the New York Times to Weird New Jersey. Jack has lived in Hoboken for 20 years and chronicles his misadventures at saltinwound.com.

COVER INFO RIVER CLARK photographer KEVIN CALE, CYNTHIA CORTES

cover design MORGAN FOX makeup ar tist B.P. “SHAY” CARMOUCHE production assistant WENDY RODEWALDSULZ, MAUREEN MARSALES, BRENDA TY, MARY MODICA talent JERSEY CITY, NJ location

hMAG is published six times a year by Hoboken Publications, LLC. ©2009-2013 Hoboken Publications, LLC. Reproduction in whole or in par t without written permission is strictly prohibited. hMAG cannot be held responsible for unsolicited material.

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FEATURE 14

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FEATURE

ROLLER GIRLS RULE STORY BY JESSICA ROSERO PHOTOS BY RIVER CLARK

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FEATURE 16

Do you have what it takes to be a Rollergirl? Are you tough enough to bout it out with the real women of the derby? The ladies of the Garden State Rollergirls are among the fiercest competitors of the ever growing and popular spor t of roller derby, and they are here to play. “We are the highest WFTDA ranked team in New Jersey,” said Renegade Ruby, who is a league coach and captain of the Ironbound Maidens. “We look for girls that try really hard, and take direction and criticism well.” With their 2014 season just underway, the Garden State Rollergirls are ready to show their stuff on the track, and hopefully recruit the next slot of derby girls. Rules of the rink Roller derby, which has picked up in popularity in the last few years, is a full-contact spor t played in traditional quad roller skates on a flat surface. There are currently almost 1,500 teams around the world. The games, which are called bouts, are divided into two 30-minute periods with ten players on the track. “So you have two teams of five people, four blockers and one jammer,” said Ruby, who is an all-star jammer. “The jammer scores points, and tries to get out on the second pass to score points. For every opposing blocker you pass you score a point.”

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According to Ruby, the blockers from each team try to form a wall to stop the opposite team’s jammer through the pack.

“I’ve skated my whole life,” she said. “From the time I was five or six years old I would go [skating] with my dad and I took lessons.”

“You are allowed to block with your whole body,” said Ruby.

Before joining the league in 2009, Ruby’s interest in roller derby was peaked from a reality show on A&E called “Roller Girls”. After which, she went to watch the bouts of the Jersey Shore Roller Girls in Asbury Park and was hooked, so she proceeded to search for a league near her home in nor thern NJ.

Blockers can use shoulder and hip checks, as well as booty blocks, to distract. However, the key to success is the open line of communication among their teammates during the games. The roster brings women athletes together from all over nor thern NJ with different backgrounds and skill levels. To be a par t of the team, all they ask is that you try, and put in the time and dedication. “We offer a series of three boot camps [anyone] can test it out for a couple of weeks,” said Ruby. “It’s not going to be easy. This year we took 11 new girls. There are 29 girls in total.” The season runs from March to November, and has open tryouts in November. Rollergirls’ crew Renegade Ruby, known as Maureen Marsales outside the track, is going into her 5th season with the Garden State Rollergirls, and this is her second year coaching. “I was fresh meat in December of 2009,” said Ruby. “I had just gotten out of a long term relationship and I had a lot of free time, and I wanted to make new friends.”

“I thought you had to be fit [to roller derby], and all the girls were really average and normal,” said Ruby, who also loved the girls’ varying styles. “I like the camaraderie of it. I never played a team spor t before roller derby and I love being out there.” Two of the new names to the roster are Wendy Skullz, aka Wendy Sulz, and Shimmy Hendrix, aka Mary Modica. This is the first season for both.

“You are allowed to block with your whole body,” said Ruby.

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FEATURE 17

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FEATURE 18

“They are really open to beginners joining and showing you the ropes,” said Wendy, who recently celebrated her second anniversary in the spor t.

Shimmy. “I’m in the greatest shape of my life and it makes you strive to be even better. I never played a team spor t in my life and it’s changing me as a person.”’

Wendy first became familiar with roller derby at 20 years old, and even tried out for the Gotham Girls Roller Derby league, which had about 100 girls trying out for the team. She did not make it in, but she continued to look for other oppor tunities and a few years later joined a recreation league in Brooklyn.

“Roller derby is an accepting community,” she said. “Bullying and meanness is not okay. It’s the first time in my life that I really feel accepted in that way. Everyone can be who they are.”

After going to the open tryouts for the Garden State Rollergirls this past November, Wendy joined the league and star ted practicing in early December. “I got to be par t of a team, I’m more involved, and I’ve made a lot of new friends,” said Wendy, who is an online beauty editor. “I think that the [veterans] are really good about pushing us to our full potential. I just want to get better. It’s been really rewarding.” Shimmy first stepped into the world of roller derby two and a half years ago after a co-worker at a community center brought her to one of her league’s bouts. Since roller derby was something she had always wanted to try, Shimmy then joined the Long Island Roller Rebels. She had to leave to move fur ther west to join the FDNY, and then went on to tryout for the Garden State Roller Girls. “There are so many things [about roller derby] - the first thing is the spor t and fitness aspect of it,” said

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Shimmy loves the suppor tive environment among the Rollergirls. She is currently captain for one of the home teams, and is also learning how to jam in addition to being a blocker. “It was challenging and that is what everyone‘s number one priority and [concern] is – the ability to play the game,” said Shimmy. “I didn’t have to apologize for my shor t comings. They actively tried to teach me. To be accepted on the league in a social aspect you have to show your dedication to the spor t first. Once you prove yourself on the track you could be a purple dinosaur and you’re in.” In her 6th season with the Rollergirls is Devlynne DaHouse, aka Marianna Marks, the manager of an editorial depar tment for a large publisher. The league practices at least three times a week, in addition to hosting events and promotional work to keep the league operating.

“Monday night is endurance night and I never give less than 200%,” said Devlynne. “You dig deep and keep pushing. When you’re done at the end of the night, [you think] I didn’t know I had that in me.” Like so many of the girls, Devlynne has enjoyed the suppor tive environment and social component of the league, but just as impor tant has been the challenge and ongoing evolution of the spor t. “There is always something to learn and it’s very stimulating in that way,” said Devlynne. “The game is always evolving and the rules change [slightly] from year to year, and each year the girls coming in are better and better.” A league of their own Founded in the fall of 2006, the Garden State Rollergirls had previously been par t of a group of three teams: The Hub City Hellrazors, Jersey City

“You dig deep and keep pushing. When you’re done at the end of the night, [you think] I didn’t know I had that in me.”

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FEATURE 19

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FEATURE 20

Bridge and Pummel and the Nor thern Nightmares. According to Belle Somebashin’, one of the founding members of the league, The Hellrazors were and continue to be based in Kendall Park, NJ, while the remaining two teams stayed in nor thern NJ. “At that time the nor thern teams were primarily skating in outdoor hockey rinks, and during the summer of 2006 we secured a weekly slot at the Branchbrook Park Skating Facility in Newark,” said Belle. “Since the majority of the skaters were up here a group of us proposed that it was in everyone’s best interest for us to create our own league.” The Garden State Rollergirls is an all-female, member owned and operated LLC, flat-track roller derby

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league. An Executive Board of at least four members, in conjunction with team captains and committee heads, runs the league. According to Belle, Jersey City Bridge and Pummel and Nor thern Nightmares continue to be the two core interleague home teams, in addition to, the two interleague travel teams, including the nationally ranked Ironbound Maidens and the Brick City Bruisers. The Maidens make up the team roster for the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) rankings. WFTDA is the international governing body for the spor t of women’s flat track roller derby and a membership organization for leagues to collaborate and network.

“Our No. 1 goal is we would love to be invited to compete in the WFTDA Division 2 tournament,” said Ruby. “We would have to be ranked within the top 60 teams in the country.” Teams are ranked 41 to 60 as of July 31st, and are invited to the Division 2 playoffs. For more information on the Garden State Rollergirls’ upcoming bouts and tryouts visit www. gardenstaterollergirls.com••

Artist Robert Policastro

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HERITAGE 24

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HERITAGE

Baseball, Kickball, Stoopball, Stickball… STORY BY MELISSA ABERNATHY, PHOTOS COURTESY OF HISTORICAL MUSEUM

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HERITAGE 26

Hoboken at Play, from the Fields of Elysian to the City Streets Before “go out and play” meant “set up an elaborate schedule of play dates” or membership in a sports league, Hoboken children and young adults pretty much had to invent their own recreation. Oral histories in the Hoboken Historical Museum’s archives contain many recollections of games played here and throughout the New York urban area with names like Johnny-on-the-Pony, Ring-a-Lario, stoopball and box ball, and the king of improvised urban sports, stickball.

A Hoboken kid’s playground, usually supervised from an upper window by an older relative, was the street or sidewalk, and their teammates were kids from their own block. The rules of the games could vary from neighborhood to neighborhood – negotiating the rules was half the fun. Indeed, that spirit of invention dates all the way back to Hoboken’s earliest days as a recreational venue, in the mid1840s, when Alexander Cartwright’s Knickerbocker Base Ball Club tinkered with and perfected the rules of baseball on Hoboken’s renowned Elysian Fields. In fact, recreation was Hoboken’s main “industry” before its incorporation in 1855. In the 1850 census, the city’s population was less than 3,000, and the Stevens family developed the River Walk and a vast playing field at the north end of the waterfront to attract people to visit and put down roots. Their strategy worked, evidently, as the city’s population more than tripled over the next decade to 9,662, according to an excellent book on immigration history by Dr. Christina Ziegler-McPherson, Immigrants in Hoboken, OneWay Ticket, 1845-1985. The historian is the guest curator for the Museum’s next exhibit, opening August 3, called “Destination Hoboken: The Immigrant’s Story 1892-1924,” which will explore Hoboken’s rapid expansion and its role in the peak years of U.S. immigration. From the mid-1800s to the turn of the century, Hoboken’s Elysian Fields and St. George’s Cricket Grounds hosted many famous amateur sporting events, written up in The

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HERITAGE 27

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HERITAGE 28

New York Times and popular illustrated magazines. A search of the Hoboken Historical Museum’s online collections [www.hobokenmuseum.org/research/collections] turns up engravings of international cricket matches between Canada and the United States in 1858 (right), and intercollegiate football games between Columbia and Harvard in 1877, and Yale vs. Princeton in 1879 (page 24). As the Hoboken landscape became more densely urbanized, the city’s youth were forced to adapt their games to the streetscape. By 1910, Hoboken’s population peaked at 70,324, and remained above 50,000 through 1950. Imagine today’s population sharing the same square mile, but without any waterfront parks or walkways, and factories where many of today’s condominiums are! Many people who grew up here in the 1950s and 1960s remember the street games well. Kickball, kick-the-can, Ring-a-Lario, and Johnny-on-the-Pony were folk traditions handed down from generation to generation. Girls played jump rope and hopscotch. “In the daytime, as girls, we would stay together and play games or go to the park. We’d also play jump rope and hopscotch. There was a shoemaker nearby and he would give us old heels to use for our games,” recalls Marie Radigan in a forthcoming Hoboken Historical Museum book, I Was Born in Hoboken, by Bill Miller, about growing up in Hoboken in the mid-19th century. Kids creatively incorporated the urban landscape into their games. Some games required only a ball with some bounce—ideally, a “spaldeen” by the Spalding sporting

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HERITAGE 29

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HERITAGE 30

goods company—and a solid wall or stairway. Box ball, for example, turned a pair of sidewalk squares into a kind of ping-pong court, where open palms served as paddles. Manhole covers or the four corners of an intersection could serve as bases for stickball games, where a broomstick with tape wrapped around the end typically served as a bat. In I Was Born in Hoboken, Ron Buzzanca recalls, “We always played stick ball on the side of Brandt School. We’d dodge cars, accidentally hit windows, and follow trucks. But we’d always wait for baby carriages to cross. We never wanted to hit a baby. ” Not every youthful activity was as hazardous to windows as stickball in the 1950s. The Parks Department held summer competitions for kids in art, sewing, chess, and checkers. Playing marbles was a popular activity. Of course, summer days in the city without air conditioning could get very hot. Cooling off during the day might mean jumping into the cold water streaming out of open fire hydrants, or enjoying wading pools and cold showers in parks. These are just a few examples of the oral histories and vintage photographs that the Hoboken Historical Museum has added over the years to its growing collections of artifacts, photos and documents. Much of these are easily accessible on our website. If you have a story or artifact to donate, drop an email to collections@hobokenmuseum.org. •• Story by Melissa Abernathy with research assistance from Darian Worden.

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hLIFE 34

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HLIFE

On the (Better)

Waterfront

STORY BY JACK SILBERT PHOTOS BY RON HINE AND COURTESY OF FUND FOR A BETTER WATERFRONT

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hLIFE 36

It’s a gorgeous summer morning, so you head over to Pier A. But when you get there, you find a 33-story office tower blotting out the sun. No, it’s not a lost episode of The Twilight Zone. This would’ve been reality, according to the city’s development plan for the south waterfront in the late 1980s. Thankfully, a volunteer group that would become the Fund for a Better Waterfront prevented it from happening—and then began fighting for a continuous public park along the Hudson River in Hoboken. Their tireless work continues to this day, ready to do battle any time the specter of overdevelopment appears. Helping lead the charge is executive director Ron Hine. The Urbana, Illinois native arrived in Hoboken back in 1969 after attending graduate school at the University of Pittsburgh. As a community service activist, Hine dealt with issues such as tenant organizing and welfare rights — but didn’t give much thought to the river’s edge. “It was still a working waterfront,” said Hine, “even though those activities were gradually fading away.” The waterfront was difficult for the average person to access, and giant “head house” buildings (where goods unloaded from ships could be stored) sat by the water from 1st to 4th Street — on land leased by the Port Authority. By the late 1980s, nearly all vestiges of the shipping industry were long gone from the city’s waterfront. The nature of the business had changed, switching from crates, nets, and grappling hooks to the giant steel containers that are easily transferred from ship to train

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to truck — a style of shipping that Hoboken’s piers couldn’t handle. In 1988, the state of New Jersey began mandating that developers leave a minimum of 30 feet of public space along the waterfront. But development simply hadn’t happened on Hoboken’s waterfront. (Blame politics and logistics.) It was as if development projects came there to die. And then one day, Hine received a call from a local group known as Save Hoboken From Over-Development. He says, “When the city of Hoboken signed an agreement with the Port Authority to develop the south waterfront, they wanted to try to stop it.” The city’s plan called for 3.2 million square feet of development between 1st and 4th Streets, including the massive office complex on Pier A and residential housing on Pier C.

persuasive too: Elected officials said that voting for the project would mean lower taxes. “We had no political support, absolutely none,” Hine says. On the referendum date, voter turnout was surprisingly high. Results were very close, but the development project had been defeated. “The politicians were totally stunned that we won,” Hine remembers. The city put the issue back on the ballot in 1992, hoping to undo the previous results, and poured vast amounts into advertising. But Hine and his colleagues had some new ammunition as well. “By then we had our plan,” he says. Just after the 1990 referendum, the Coalition had morphed into the non-profit Fund for a Better Waterfront (FBW). “We felt very strongly that we had to come up with a positive vision for what could

Hine was a natural choice to join the fight, having helped prevent projects such as a 30-story tower on lower Adams Street and a series of high-rises along Observer Highway. So in 1989, a new group formed, called the Coalition for a Better Waterfront. A city referendum on the development question was scheduled for July 9, 1990, so the Coalition tried to get the word out. “We ran very much a grassroots campaign,” Hine recalls. “We didn’t have money.” Their main arguments: The project was entirely too big for the city, and it would wall off most residents from the waterfront. The pro-development advocates were

“The politicians were totally stunned that we won” Hine remembers.

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hLIFE 37

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hLIFE 38

happen,” Hine recalls. “We didn’t just want to be against whatever the city proposed.” FBW quickly hired noted architect and urban planner Craig Whitaker to develop a proposal for Hoboken’s waterfront. During a walking tour with Whitaker, Hine’s confidence wavered somewhat. “It was just this derelict waterfront,” he remembers. “I was totally overwhelmed, thinking, ‘Oh my God, how are you ever going to fix this mess?’” But Whitaker was unfazed. “As soon as I told Ron and his cohorts that Hoboken had the only opportunity— of any city from Bayonne to the George Washington Bridge—for a continuous public waterfront, that became our rallying cry,” he recalls. “A public park from one end of town to the other.” Whitaker had studied successful waterfronts around the globe, and had a straightforward philosophy. “The secret to getting a public park was to separate it from development by a street,” he explains. In Hoboken’s case, that street would be Sinatra Drive: with businesses on one side of the street (their front doors facing the water), and the park on the other side. To help residents visualize this plan, Whitaker suggested constructing a scale model. There was one small problem. “FBW didn’t have 15 cents to hire a professional model maker,” Whitaker says. Undaunted, they set out basswood, box cutters, and Elmer’s glue, and invited everyone in town

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to pitch in. “We told citizens they could build their own block,” he remembers. (Volunteer architects, meanwhile, handled the more complicated buildings.) Armed with Whitaker’s plan and model, and with slight shifts in the city’s political landscape, the FBW was victorious again in the 1992 vote, by an even wider margin. In 1995, the city adopted most of the FBW’s waterfront plan. Sinatra Park was completed in 1998, with Pier A Park arriving the following year. The Port Authority paid for the construction of Pier A Park, and also for new streets, installation of pipes, and other infrastructure. Per the agreement, the Port Authority is being paid back over time by the development on the west side of Sinatra Drive between 1st and 4th Street. This development also pays into a maintenance fund for upkeep of the park. Hoboken’s public waterfront was well underway, yet FBW’s job was far from over. “You’d think you create a plan for the whole waterfront and that’d be the end of it,” says Hine. “But it didn’t work that way. So we have all of these individual battles.” In 2000, for example, developers unveiled sprawling plans for the site of the former Maxwell House plant uptown (which had closed in 1992)—including townhouses on the piers. That didn’t jive with a continuous waterfront park, and Hine let them know.

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When the Maxwell Place Park opened in 2007, it was clear that developers had cut some corners from FBW’s proposal. But with five more acres of public park along Hoboken’s waterfront, it was still a major victory. Developers aren’t the only threat to the river’s edge — there is also nature. “Remarkably, much of the waterfront held up very well during Sandy,” reports Hine. “Out of the 200 trees at the south waterfront, we lost maybe two.” He credits careful park design, the park’s proper elevation, and innovative planting techniques. As the city enacts a comprehensive flood plan, FBW intends to assist with public awareness. With a mix of dedicated volunteers and hired experts when needed, the FBW has been a dependable presence whenever development questions arise. Registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, FBW is required to have a Board of Directors (including its spirited president Jim Vance; Nick Borg, who Hine worked with in his earliest Hoboken community-service days; and Augusta Przygoda, an original member of the Coalition for a Better Waterfront). FBW does receive foundation support — which ebbs and flows with the economy— but most funding comes from individual contributions.

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These days, FBW keeps an eye on several waterfront issues, including the Stevens Institute parking lot and maintenance building (which FBW suggests moving to the other side of Sinatra Drive); FBW’s recommendation to expand the Little League field and extend 4th and 5th Streets to the waterfront; the eventual sale of the Union Dry Dock property at 9th Street (the last remnant of the working waterfront); and the controversial Rockefeller Group property uptown.

hLIFE

Discussions began, with the FBW bringing in Whitaker and other specialists. They presented a new plan for the site. “We were saying, you’re basically getting the same number of residential units, but you’re also getting the waterfront park,” Hine states. “Simple deal, really.”

Then there’s the Monarch Project. The Shipyard Associates had agreed to create open space on the 15th Street pier, but now intend to erect two 11-story towers instead. The FBW claims this is illegal according to state regulations and new flood ordinances. “The Monarch Towers violate a basic principle for us,” Hine says. “They want to build on the wrong side of Sinatra Drive, out on the pier.” With much of Hoboken’s waterfront park completed, and finishing the job well within grasp, the FBW vows to keep fighting for the public’s interest. Achievements such as the south waterfront keep Ron Hine motivated. “I walk there and nobody knows who I am, but still, I feel good,” he says. “I’ve been involved in a lot of things where you look back and think, ‘Well, what did I accomplish?’ But here, it’s a physical manifestation of all the good work we did. And that’s very gratifying.” ••

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RAVES 40

A Brief History of hMAG RAVE BY DIANA SCHWAEBLE PHOTOS BY WIL HINDS

Here at hMAG, we love it when we hear from our readers and fans of the magazine. Letters and comments let us know how we are doing. Imagine our surprise when we discovered two walls covered with pictures and content from our magazine! McSwiggan’s Pub, 110 First Street, has created a montage of images from issues of hMAG and put them on their walls. It is a brief history of our magazine cut out and turned into a work of art. Next time you are in the pub, have a look. We think you’ll like it too! ••

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RAVES 42

Lemon Drop Days RAVE BY DIANA SCHWAEBLE PHOTOS BY WIL HINDS

Summer is the time to lighten up and sip on cocktails with fresh ingredients. Vodka and citrus make the perfect pair. A Lemon Drop Martini is a grown-up version of lemonade and Biggie’s version is spot on. When making this at home start with a good citrus vodka, fresh lemons, and sugar. 3 oz. of citrus vodka Splash of triple sec Fresh lemon juice Pinch of sugar Garnish with lemon wedge Add vodka and triple sec to a shaker tin. Squeeze a fresh lemon; add a teaspoon of sugar and a splash of water. Shake and strain into a sugar rimmed martini glass. Enjoy! ••

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RAVES 44

From Earth and Sea RAVE BY RANDI E. ROBERTS PHOTOS BY SHERRY RUCZYNSKI

As a painter and guilder, Heather Smith stumbled into jewelry making. She began by creating pieces for herself with found materials but now operates the Half Shell Jewelry Shop. Heather is a collector attracted to the organic; her necklaces are a reflection of that. The components are from the earth, which she describes as coming from somewhere and meaning something. Her necklaces are constructed with imperfect found objects mainly from the ocean, like inimitable crab claws and shimmering mussel shells. Her necklaces are rugged and raw, but there is a delicate feeling to her work as found natural objects are paired with fine gold— truly one-of-a-kind. Visit: www.etsy.com/shop/ halfshelljewelryshop ••

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RAVES 46

Morphing Metal RAVE BY RANDI E. ROBERTS PHOTOS BY SHERRY RUCZYNSKI

Elizabeth Ann Tokoly of EatMetal Inc., morphs metals from gold to sterling silver, to translate her vision of nature’s symmetry into her own kind of geometry. Her obsession with clean lines, patterns, texture and the distortion of form is represented in her metalwork, whether it is in her jewelry collections featuring circles and elongated triangles, or in her sculptural pieces composed of four-sided pyramids and many-sided shapes. Elizabeth’s beautiful studio in the Monroe Center consists of her workspace dispersed with tools and materials and a minimalist display area that enables her work to shine. A few workbenches allow for her classes and workshops where she shares her craft. For more check out www.eatmetal.org.••

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RAVES 48

Crab-tastic RAVE AND PHOTOS BY RANDI E. ROBERTS

You might think it is hard to find a great crab cake, but The Madison does it right. Their delicious appetizer crab cake demonstrates a delicate balance — a wellseasoned mess of stringy crab encased by a crispy fried crust. Sitting in a shallow pool of layered ginger dressing, the succulent meat soaks up the heat, enhancing the sweetness of the crab. The small plate is garnished with crunchy green onions, brightening the dish with freshness. A tiny heap of micro greens resting on top of the crab cake introduces an earthy green moment adding to the complex mix of sweet, salty, and spice. ••

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A Modern Classic

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135 Washington Street, Hoboken | www.thebrassrailnj.com

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Dr. Annu Luthra • Dr. Vik Luthra • Dr. Nomi Isaacs Across from PATH | 80 River St, Penthouse, Hoboken, NJ 201.798.6684 | www.dentiquedental.com

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FACES 52

Mike Goldstein

STORY AND PHOTOS BY RANDI E. ROBERTS months later, he was in a monogamous relationship and was very successful. Friend after friend was going on dates, getting in relationships, and then I started getting people married. Eventually, I was like “wow there’s a business here.” Tell me about EZ Dating Coach. It has always been a dream of mine to have a business in Hoboken. Quite frankly, I saw the need here. So in comes, EZ Dating Coach, which provides dating coaching, confidencebuilding exercises for guys and body language hints for girls, amongst other services. I give my female clients the male perspective. I am not an expert on women, but I do understand men, because I am one. Not only do I help with dating, I help with communication. My whole business is geared around finding love.

C •

• • •

What do you think about the Hoboken dating scene? It’s amazing and terrible all at the same time. It’s amazing I said, “I must live here.” I got a plan and moved to Hoboken. because in this little square mile you’ve got very successful I’ve been living here for about 6 years. The town is absolutely business people in their 20s and 30s. It’s terrible because amazing. I love all of the food, the restaurants, the bars, and in Hoboken has the most bars per square mile, which is great, but if you are looking for a relationship bars are not the best as my opinion, it has the best mozzarella on the planet. people are looking to hook up.

Mike Goldstein took his success with dating girls growing up, his networking and business savvy, and his personable attitude to help people help themselves in the world of love. After assisting his friends in finding love for five years, he dropped everything and created EZ Dating Coach, a service offering advice and support in dating and communication. Mike explains his love How did you become a dating coach? I’ve been doing this for 5 years now. I started working pro for his new town and helping people to find their soul mates. bono for my friends. I always did pretty well with girls growing up, and my friends knew that. So they thought that my advice What’s your relationship with Hoboken? I fell in love with Hoboken. I actually had no intentions of is probably pretty credible. One of my best friends, the poor moving here. I grew up in a boring suburb that is residential guy, never went on dates, never had a girlfriend. And I said, with only one bar, a few restaurants, that’s it. The exact “Let me help you.” We set up his online profile. I taught opposite of Hoboken. I started visiting friends living here and him my messaging methodology, and he ran with it. Three

What’s your favorite pick up line? “Hi!” It’s the one that works. To learn more about EZ Dating Coach, check out the website at http://www.ezdatingcoach.com/.

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EVENT PIX 54

hMIXER • MAR 20, 2014 LOUISE AND JERRY’S INTRO BY DIANA SCHWAEBLE PHOTOS BY CEZARE RAMONE

There was a buzz in the air at the latest mixer on Thursday, March 20 at Louise and Jerry’s, 329 Washington St. The feeling of spring was apparent as people flocked to the cozy pub to celebrate. This neighborhood bar is one of the oldest family run and operated bars in town. On the wall are pictures of Hoboken’s famous sons and daughters. It is a welcoming place as many locals know. Music was also par t of the night as guests enjoyed the sounds of Hoboken’s Nipsy, featuring the talents of Bill Hamilton and Dave Calamoneri. They are a crowd favorite and par t of the reason that Andrew Brown from 902 Brewing Company came to the latest mixer. The night’s raffle drawing was held to help the Walk MS Team “All Hands on Deck.” Guests enjoyed the drink specials provided by Jack Daniels and Peroni. So until next time Hoboken, keep up the good work. We hope to see you at our next mixer! For information on how you can get involved as a sponsor or host, please email: Info@hmag.com. ••

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EVENT PIX 55

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EVENT PIX 56

hMIXER • APR 17, 2014 ALE HOUSE, HOBOKEN INTRO BY NOELLE TATE PHOTOS BY CEZARE RAMONE

Hobokenites poured into The Ale House for a lively April hMIXER at 1043 Willow, formally McMahons, which is now restored and transformed into a warm and very welcoming Hoboken bar. Within an hour, the place was packed, and everyone was eating, drinking, and laughing. Fresh and delicious sandwiches were provided by D’s Soul Full Cafe to kick off the evening with some tasty grub. These were chased down with the incredible drink specials offered by The Ale House. Co-sponsor Miller Lite was also there with Summer Shandy and Smith & Forge Hard Cider specials! Ray Greiche rocked out on his acoustic guitar and was ready for anyone who wanted to karaoke. Proceeds from the raffle went to the Rock’n 4 Autism event which is co-sponsored by ASAT and HOPES to promote Autism Awareness. We saw some new faces including team members from Zog Sports who came out after their win. We hope to see you out at our next hMIXER! Like us on Facebook to be kept up-to-date on our events. To find out how to get involved as a sponsor or host please email: info@hmag.com. ••

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EVENT PIX 57

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OUT OF DODGE

ISLAND LIVING: No passport required STORY BY THETA PAVIS PHOTOS COURTESY OF TIMOTHY SCHENCK PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE TRUST FOR GOVERNOR’S ISLAND

If the idea of visiting an island that is uninhabited but brimming with interesting art, a pristine, beautiful landscape and awesome food appeals to you – then Governor’s Island is the place to go. Sure, it’s not a tropical island –to get there you don’t need to go through customs. All you need to do is get to one of the free ferries, which run from lower Manhattan. Hundreds of thousands of visitors come each season and this year it opens on May 24. For the first time it will be open seven days a week. Governor’s Island is 172 acres in the middle of New York Harbor, and only 800 yards from Lower Manhattan. For almost two centuries, the island was a military base - home to the U.S. Army and later the Coast Guard, and it was closed to the public. Over the years, some lovely brick homes were built there for officers. No cars are allowed, but you can rent bikes and tour the entire place. Visitors can also bring their own bikes.

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With the consolidation of U.S. Military forces in 1966, the island was transferred to the Coast Guard. For a time, this was the Coast Guard’s largest installation, with an on-island population of approximately 3,500. In 2003, the federal government sold 150 acres of the island to the people of New York. The remaining 22 acres of the island was declared the Governor’s Island National Monument, overseen by the National Park Service. In the spring and summer there are amazing events, including concerts, a multi-day poetry festival, art installations and a fabulous assortment of food trucks. One event that began on the island is FIGMENT, a grassroots effort to bring art into the lives of more people. This year 30 new acres of park will be open for the first time. The full schedule will be announced in the spring, but it is expected to include an artist-designed miniature golf course (done by FIGMENT) with the theme of “New York City.” ••

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K S O BOPARTIE

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ARTISTS 60

MUSICIAN

KARYN KUHL STORY BY MELISSA COLANGELO PHOTOS BY DINA REGINE AND ALAN RAND

Lead singer and guitarist of The Karyn Kuhl band is a Hoboken music veteran. Influenced by the early 80s post-punk scene, Karyn Kuhl started joining bands in Hoboken. In the late 90s, Kuhl decided to go solo. Having played a lot of heavy music in the past, Kuhl wanted to focus on melody and developing her singing. She started playing solo with just a guitar, and then slowly started to form a band. The Karyn Kuhl Band was formed in 2010. Lou Ciarlo plays bass while Jonpaul Pantozzi is on drums. The latest addition to the band is Hoboken guitarist, James Mastro. “I feel like the band is really at its best right now,” Kuhl said. The band’s most recent album, “Songs for the Dead,” won the Hoboken Music Award for Outstanding Album. “This record has some really heavy songs, which are part of my past in a way and mellower stuff, which is sort of bossa nova influence or even slightly jazz influence.” Kuhl said. Being part of the Hoboken music scene for decades, Kuhl has seen several changes. “When I moved here, you could find cheap places. For people to really be creative they can’t be consumed every minute by how they are going to make

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money to pay high rents. It was an organic music scene because people could be more relaxed about that. There’s still are a lot of musicians here trying to keep the music going which is great, but it’s really hard. The best example of that is Maxwell’s closing.” Visit: www.karynkuhl.com ••

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facebook.com/peroniusa hMAG_mayjun14.indd 61

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hNOW 62

PWP WINTER: BENEFIT A WIN The fifth annual winter benefit was a big win for Party With

Purpose - actually the biggest one yet with almost 40k raised for

INTRO BY DIANA SCHWAEBLE PHOTOS BY DAVID GAZZO AND MATT MEISTRICH

the non-profit charity organization. The party was held at Lulu’s in the W-Hoboken and featured an open bar, delicious food, and live music performed by The Jersey Follettes. Over 250 guests got into the ‘Bourbon Meets Boken’ theme with colorful Mardi Gras masks and an exciting auction. Event Dir. Stacey Warren was thrilled with the turn out and said it could not have happened without their amazing team of volunteers who worked to make it a night to remember. PWP founder, Scott Delea, says each year the group works to help more charities and “give bigger.” They were grateful for the benefit sponsors which includes Inflexion Interactive, PRIME Real Estate, Haven Savings Bank, and Cortes & Hay. To find out more, visit: partywithpurpose.org. ••

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The Favorite Place to Visit For Hoboken's Finest Artists, Musicians and Chefs

329 Washington Street â&#x20AC;˘ Hoboken, NJ (201) 656-9698

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