River view observer dec 23 jan 7 2014 issue

Volume 17, No. 12

December 23rd - January 7th 2014 FREE PUBLICATION

riverviewobserver.net

201-349-4336

Pg. 3

Bambino Chef

Pg. 6

On the cover

Josh Wells

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Laughing in the New Year with the Funny Guys

2013

By Sally Deering

had its share of jokes: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West named their kid “North” after a sign on a road map. It’s been said that with his eyes on the presidency, New Jersey’s Governor Chris Christie had a band clamped on his stomach that plays “Hail to the Chief” whenever he eats a burrito. In 2014, Obamacare takes its first baby-steps and people with health insurance will soon be able to see a real doctor instead of asking the bank teller to check their prostate.

Rim-shot, please!

As New Jerseyians, we’ve learned to laugh at ourselves: (“You’re from New Jersey? Which exit?”) And as Americans we’ve cultivated a

very sharp sense of humor to help us cope with this crazy world we live in. So to ring out 2013 and ring in 2014, we thought we’d turn to funny guys like Louis C.K. and Robin Williams and local stand-up comics like Brett Druck, Rich Kiamco and Craig Mahoney for their comedic perspectives.

Stand-up comedian Brett Druck has performed in the TBS Just for Laughs Festival as an Andy Kaufman Award Finalist and appeared on TVs AMERICA’S GOT TALENT. He can be seen at COMEDY DOPENESS on the second Saturday of the month at the Dopeness in downtown Jersey City. (His next show is January 11th and reservations can be made by emailing comedydopness@gmail.com.) cont’d pg. 6

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New Year’s Rocking IN THE CLUBS: at the Clinton Social

By Martin Ramone Delossantos The Clinton Social is a local Hoboken restaurant and lounge that’s distinguishable by it’s fire engine red doors, and windows. In spring and summer there are yellow umbrellas shading the outdoor tables.

As a restaurant it has pretty good food and service; as a lounge it is swinging. Only for now, the lounge set-up is Saturdays from 9:30 pm-3 am or last call. The music is Top 40s, electronic, and 90s, so if you are swayed by DJ Dante Dimedici’s selections then rock away.

There is no bottle service available. Bottle service means you and your guests are provided VIP seating and can order premium liquor and be provided with mixers, which you self pour and drink till your bottles are

empty for a set price. he bar is fully stocked to give you an array of alcoholic beverages to choose from so bottle service is not necessary. Come dressed to impress, and meet new people, or just hang with the pals you know. It is a spacious, yet with a personal space feel.

The owner of this cool place is Dave Carney who also owns the Madison Restaurant in Hoboken. The guy putting all of this together is General Manager Jesse Garbarino. Together with a friendly staff you can’t miss having a real good time.

For New Year’s Eve 2014 the Clinton Social is offering a nice deal: From 9 pm-1 am there will be an open bar with a hot and cold buffet and great sounds from DJ Dante Dimedici. At midnight, there will be a champagne toast with party favors to ring in the New Year.

A delicious buffet breakfast is served after midnight and a is available from 11am -5pm.

New Year’s Day tasty brunch If You Go: The Clinton Social 700 Clinton St. Hoboken 201-239-0063 www.clintonsocial.com Lounge hours: Sat, 9:30 pm-3 am or last call.

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Bambino Chef: Where Kids Learn to Shake ‘N Bake Rene Gonzalez Teaches Kids Healthy Cooking is Fun

By Sally Deering Would your children eat a Spinach Brownie? How about a Mac & Cheese Cupcake with Vegetable Puree or a Cauliflower Pizza? They might if they made it themselves.

Those crazy concoctions were created by Rene Gonzalez, founder of Bambino Chef, a cooking school for kids in Jersey City. Inside Bambino Chef’s storefront there’s a kitchen with brightly colored utensils where kids don aprons, create food they make themselves and in the process learn to be empowered in the kitchen. At Bambino Chef, Rene creates recipes for cookies, cupcakes, pizza – the sky’s the limit

and the dishes she creates help give kids a good attitude toward their tastebuds’ nemesis, the vegetable.

“I want kids to build relationships with vegetables,” Rene says. “In our classes they touch them, peel them, mash them. We make cookies with sweet potatoes. Yesterday we made mini carrot cakes. We teach them you don’t have to put frosting on cake. You can drizzle it with a little honey or a little condensed milk and that will be your sugar substitute. If you cut out the sugar, after a while you won’t want it that much.”

Through workshops taught in 50-minute

sessions that are age appropriate, from 2 –years to teens, children are introduced to healthy foods and prepare dishes that incorporate fresh, healthy Rene Gonzalez owner of Bambino Chef ingredients. palm trees were the broccoKids can li. We made spaghetti with enroll in a 10-class basil and cherry tomatoes semester, drop-in classes to look like birds eggs. We and special workshops. made Cake Pops with green “For one class, we peas and garlic and the kids mashed white beans and loved them.” broccoli into patties and Bambino Chef’s charmbreaded them,” Rene says. ing storefront has a full “They looked like trees on an island. The breadcrumbs kitchen and a long table for kids to mix and mash. were the color of sand; the

The charming place is also available for birthdays and special events like pajama parties and baby showers.

Adults can take cooking classes, too.

“I was in finance, I was a tough cookie,” Rene says just minutes after hosting a tea party for moms and their babies. “It wasn’t me, I was miserable. This is what I want to do. Children are amazing and now I’m back to who I was meant to be and who I want to be. And I want this to be a happy environment. The kitchen is a happy place.”

Bambino Chef is in after-school programs at several local schools like the French-American Academy of Jersey City. Rene says: “We go to them, we bring our equipment.” And Cont’d on page 4

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Bambino Chef

Cont’d from page 3

before she gets the kids at Bambino Chef to try out her recipes, she tries them on her three children first.

“I didn’t create pizza, but I make my own pizza with Kids in aprons having fun ricotta cheese, at Bambino Chef cheddar, spinach and slices TV show where kids as of pear,” Rene young as 10 years-old says.

Bambino Chef has a fun make soufflés, it’s quite atmosphere and it’s easy to possible Rene could be see kids would feel right at teaching the future Gordon home mixing, mashing and Ramsey or Cake Boss.

“I tell the children cookbaking. Rene and her husing is so much more than band Gerson want to give children who visit Bambino pouring ingredients together,” Rene says. “There’s Chef a fun and memorable experience. And you never math, numbers, you’re concentrating, using your know. With shows like Cont’d on page 5 Master Chef, Jr. a popular

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Bambino Chef cont’d from page 4

memory skills. It’s science, too. So you have math, science, confidence. Children are so happy when they see the final result, when they make their meal from scratch. With cooking they see, ‘I accomplished this’.”

Rene Gonzalez’s Green Pea Cheese Balls A special recipe from Rene Gonzalez for kids 3 and up to do with Mom or Dad 1 cup green peas 1 cup mashed potatoes 1/4-to-1/2 cup cheddar cheese (optional) ½ cup well cooked (over-cooked) rice, nice and sticky Mix those ingredients

Add one egg, a little garlic and mix together Add pinch of salt Take your child’s favorite crackers; crumble them into breadcrumbs; and roll the balls in the breadcrumbs Bake at 400-degrees for 1015 minutes Take out of oven, let cool and enjoy!

FYI Bambino Chef 213 Newark Ave Jersey City Tel: (201) 333-9090 info@bambinochef.com

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2014? Whatever!

Cont’d from Cover

“2013 was a sad year for me,” Druck says. “I realized networking wasn’t enough for my career; I had to learn to netwerk. In 2014, some place, somewhere, an over-enthused Trader Joe’s customer will brag about raising their kids free-range. And in 2014, I resolve that if my car is about to break down, for the next mile I will take the Pulaski Skyway. This seems to be the popular approach to most people who have been in my situation.”

Comedian Craig Mahoney lives in Jersey City and is the founder and director of the annual Jersey City Comedy Festival, which is held this year April 1-6. He thinks

the most ridiculous thing in 2013 was all the fuss people made about Miley Cyrus twerking.

“Like that was a story,” Mahoney smirks. “Who cares? And twerking – it gave middle-aged white people a new word to use when talking with their kids. For me, one of the saddest things in 2013 was ‘Breaking Bad’ ending and the death of Walter White.”

This past September, funnyman Louis C.K, appeared on the Conan O’Brien TV show and talked about cellphones causing a big problem in our culture because they keep us disconnected and unable to feel real emotions. He told O’Brien that instead of experiencing our own feelings, we grab the phone to text the feelings

away – sort of like bingeeating a box of Dunkin’ Donuts after a break-up.

“I think (cell phones) are toxic, especially for children,” C.K says to O’Brien. “They don’t look at people when they talk to them. They don’t feel the empathy. Kids are mean and they’re trying it out (with the cellphone.) When they (text) “You’re fat” they think ‘Mmm that was fun.’ You need to build an ability to just be yourself without doing something.”

Rich Kiamco is a Jersey City-based comedian who has appeared on Howard Stern’s radio show, Bravo, Sirius XM, and GOOD DAY NEW YORK. Kiamco produces two regular comedy events in Jersey City: The Laugh Tour at Art Cont’d on page 7

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2014; Whatever! Cont’d from page 6

House Productions (next show is Feb 22nd); and the Speakeasy Comedy Open Mic Contest every 3rd Thursday at Pint Bar (next contest Jan 16th).

Here’s Kiamco’s take on 2013: “Gay marriage came to New Jersey, Minnesota, Maryland, Washington, Illinois, Hawaii and New Mexico. Now more samesex couples can feel equally as empty as straights.”

Kiamco’s predictions for 2014: “There will be hipster theme parks, places where hipsters can enjoy cool activities like knitting or beekeeping and projects like recycling cans and Styrofoam into vintage bikes.

They’ll do artisanal butter churning and for eco-hipsters, churn their own soy butter.”

In 2014, Kiamco says

Comdian Rick Kiamco there will be a new type of vigi lantes, the “Reality Show Hijackers,” bands of angry citizens who rise up to “stupid reality TV” and “abduct reality TV stars and force them to be the camera crew for actual real people that are doing meaningful things like rebuilding typhoon-battered countries or caring for the elderly or teaching in an inner city school.” He adds: ““Reality stars that refuse are locked in a glass room without any

access to social media and surrounded by millions of people that ignore them.”

Kiamco has some personal resolutions for2014 like following a healthier diet.

“There is no such thing as a healthy amount of ice cream if it’s consumed in one-gallon increments,” Kiamco says. “Eating in the dark does NOT mean you aren’t eating. Eating someone else’s food is still eating, even if you didn’t pay for it.”

In September, Robin Williams appeared on THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART to promote his new show THE CRAZY ONES on CBS. Williams is an avid bicyclist and when he’s in New York City, he bikes everywhere, he says.

“I was riding it on the West Side bike path,”

Williams says, “and somebody called out ‘Way to go fat ass!’’

Williams and Stewart talked about the plethora of blue bicycles provided by Citibank that riders can use to get around the City for just $10 a day.

“They have the new Citibikes you can rent, but it’s mostly Europeans going ‘How do I get downtown?’” he tells Stewart.

“I ride my bike in L.A. and that gets crazy. I got stopped by a cop once and he gave me a script instead of a ticket. He told me, ‘If you don’t like this give it to Eddie Murphy,’.”

Williams brought up the Andrew Weiner texting scandal that cost the New York Democrat the mayoral nomination this past summer.

“There’s a higher power

and then there’s a lower power that says “Text that girl your junk, it’ll be okay,” Williams says.

Josh Wells is a stand-up comedian from North Bergen who performs throughout the tri-state area. When he’s not sharing his observations of the world and the way he sees it, he’s probably at home buried in cat hair, he says. Wells hosts a bi-weekly Open Mic Night every other Wednesday at The Dopeness in Jersey City.

“2013 felt like such an unimportant year overall,” Wells says. “What can be said of a year when the most exciting individual to stand out was the hip, new 77 year-old Pope?

It’s an entire year that will be overshadowed by the twerking of Miley Cyrus and that saddens me.”

Wells’ predictions for 2014: “No one will remember who Robin Thicke is,” he says.

Any resolutions for 2014? “I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions,” Wells says. “I think anytime is a good time to make a positive change in your life, but it’s a great time to be the owner of a gym.”

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Page 9- December 23rd-January 7th, 2014 River View Observer

Wishing Everyone Happy Holidays & a Happy New Year 2014

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Photo by Steve A. Mack Pictured: Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, with Cake Boss, Buddy Valastro and Santa Claus at the Mayor’s Annual Toy Drive that took place on Friday, December 20th at City Hall.

The Toy Drive is in association with Jersey City Youth Foundation delivers holiday cheer and toys to more than 600 plus children and more.

The Toy Drive was held from 5 p.m to 7p.m.

The toys were distributed

by Santa to pre-registered families, but residents who who wanted to join in and meet the Cake Boss and celebrate the holidays were also invited to attend.

Local businesss owner Tom Parisi (Tommy Two Scoops) was also on handserving Gelato to those that attended the event.

More than 200 toys were also donated by the Hudson County Building Trades and Local 696.

“The outpouring of gifts has been tremendous and we thank all of the residents and businesses who again this year participated in the toy drive,” added Mayor Fulop.

Page 12-December 23rd- January 7th, 2014 River View Observer

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restaurant VIEWS

Prime Steaks, Liberty Stars

Liberty Prime Steakhouse in Jersey City Offers Prime Meats and Seafood in a Sophisticated Setting

By Sally Deering

P

orterhouse, Filet Mignon, New York Strip – these juicy cuts of meat are always a winner with the fine-dining lunch and dinner crowd and lucky for Jersey City, there’s a new steak house offering prime cuts in an intimate, sophisticated setting.

Liberty Prime Steakhouse on Montgomery Street in downtown Jersey City is in walking distance of both the Grove Street and Exchange Place PATH stations. The double-decker restaurant is fashioned with dark wood tables and chairs set in cozy nooks and crannies throughout and a roomy barroom that invites lively conversation as you kick back and relax.

Owner George Makrogiannis and Executive Business Manager John Mondry opened Liberty Prime Steakhouse this past October with a menu that offers Appetizers, Sandwiches, Salads and Entrees, but the real stars of the show are the steaks they serve, Porterhouse, Sirloin, NY Strip, Prime Rib and Filet Mignon.

Although Liberty Prime Steakhouse has only been open a couple of months, it already has a signature dish, Makrogiannis says, called Rare Style, a 6 oz. Filet Mignon wrapped with bacon and served with a 4-oz. lobster tail.

“You can’t go wrong with bacon, filet mignon and lobster,” Makrogiannis says. “Everything is made in house; and all our sauces and pastas are

fresh, too.”

The menu’s appetizers feature Butternut Squash Risotto, Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, Ahi Tuna Tartare, Smoked Salmon Bruschetta, Grilled Octopus, Raw Bar and Oysters. Sandwiches include the 10 oz. Liberty Prime Burger and Steak Sandwich. Salads are the Tomato Stack, Blue Iceberg, Mini Skirt Steak, Wild Arugula, Caesar and Liberty Prime House Salad.

Entrees feature the Atlantic Salmon, Blackened Red Snapper, PanSeared Duck, Pork Chop, Tangerine Fettuccini and Roasted Chicken Breast.

Steaks on the menu are the 48 oz. Porterhouse for two, 20 oz. Prime Bone in Sirloin Steak, 12 oz.

Prime NY Strip Steak, 20 oz. Prime Bone in Rib

Steak, and 10 oz. Filet Mignon.

There are delicious side dishes too like Chipotle Cheddar Mac & Cheese, Fully-Loaded Baked Potato, Parmesan Garlic Steak Fries, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Sauteed Spinach, Sauteed Mushrooms, Steamed Broccoli, Grilled Asparagus and Wasabi Mashed Potatoes.

“I always wanted to open a steakhouse,” Makrogiannis says. ““I know a lot more about the kitchen than a lot of owners. My dad owns Liberty Park Café and he taught me to work the grill, the broiler. In no means am a chef, but I do know about the kitchen and I know good food.”

Cont’d on page 16

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restaurant VIEWS Cont’d from previous page “The kitchen is like the engine,” Mondry adds, “and we put a lot of effort on the food, making sure it comes out 100 percent perfect every time. Consistency and high quality are very important to us.”

Liberty Prime Steakhouse offers their customers take-out, private parties, off-site catering, and there’s a private room and private bar on the second floor for corporate events and parties. There’s free valet parking Wednesday through Saturday nights, and soon they’ll be offering brunch.

Liberty Prime Steakhouse opened Oct. 14th and it already has a 4.5 star rating on Yelp.com.

The River View Observer Wishes All a Happy, Safe and Prosperous 2014

“We’re trying hard,” Mondry says. “We keep the food consistent and we offer great service. We over-staff a lot of times to make sure our customers get great service.”

If you go: Liberty Prime Steakhouse 111 Montgomery Street Jersey City www.libertyprimesteakhouse.com (201)333-3633 Hours: Mon-Thurs, 11 am to 10 pm lunch and dinner Fri, 11 am -11 pm Sat, 5-11 pm; Sun, 5 – 10 pm

Owner George Makrogiannis Liberty Prime Steakhouse

Liberty Prime offers two levels of fine dining

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Page 19-December 23rd-January 7th, 2014 River View Observer