I love some live jazz and piano, but I wonder if any current places (or even new ones?) are going to embrace or be able to host local or touring bands.
Then again, Automata Chino didn't last too long.
Anyone know what killed that place?

Surprisingly I just had a pleasant JCPA experience.

I recently bought a car out of state with that states temp tags.
When I called JCPA and asked what to do they told me I had to reapply and pay all over again. PAIN.

I went in the next day to see if I could get a second opinion in person, because surely they'd have me on record and can just print out a new sticker? Clearly not. "You have to start over."

I went back the next day with all my forms, the application & money, and this time there was an uniformed PA officer behind the desk. She told me not to be ridiculous, my current permit is good till August - I'll just print you out a 30 day temp tag and when your plates and reg come in the mail just bring 'em over, pay 1$ for the transfer and that's that.

still a hassle full of mixed messages, but at least I came away feeling victorious.

Ha! Well, thanks for the bitter, condescending and useful thoughts. My next question would have been if there were any great places tucked away nearby, so I do appreciate the recommendation.

I was wondering, is it bad form to go to a tailor just to get your measurements and not get a suit from them?

Is that common practice/expected (free), or is it a service that a tailor will charge for?

They are quite a few who live up by Henry Street/Chestnut Avenue. I've seen them eating out of the cat bowls folks leave out on the sidewalk. These lot seem fearless/oblivious. I sneaked by on the sidewalk as one was feasting to see what would happen...the striped kitty just glanced up and continued to dine.

And this is a city issue right? I had heard from one of the local bar tenders that JC keeps a real tight grip on giving out entertainment permits for potential places to have music.

Anybody have more info on this? I wanted to hear more but things got crowded and busy there.

Between jobs and with the help of a girlfriend I worked at the main JC post office a few years back.

What an experience.

As much as I will always stick up for all my great, hardworking, dedicated, coworkers (which were many) there were definitely some major untreatable messes going on there that not even they could help with.

A lot of it had to do with poor communication between the admin/coordinators who are always running around solving the problem from 40 minutes ago and being unable to explain new routes that they'd shove the substitutes into because everything is on a time budget due to too much overtime and the general bankruptcy bent of the USPS.
Many TE's go out a touch unprepared, and the rule was....if you don't know what to do with certain mail, just hold onto it and bring it back to the PO for tomorrow to deal with. You get the idea if that TE gets stuck on the same route a few days in a row.


Last bit there is true, they told us we weren't obliged to except outgoing mail from home boxes or people on the street- but many do out of kindness.

This guy has been on fire this summer! He drives through my neighborhood a lot, and the jeep definitely has some sort of karaoke device set up inside.

I kinda remember him driving around a few years ago around election time singing out political support, but it wasn't until this summer that I saw/heard him again.

Safety or $$$ I've noticed motorists, frustrated by the tunnel traffic, zipping through there (since it is such a large intersection ) and getting caught in the red, so it will certainly get good use.

I was actually on my bike turning right when it got me.

I've noticed that it takes a picture if you turn right on red as well. As far as I recall there was never a sign saying a right on red was unacceptable...anyone been there lately to verify?

I ate in there once to see if it varied from the so-so delivery. the only remarkable thing about the meal was when a large truck crashed into the traffic light on the corner of Jersey Ave in front of the pet shop and knocked it over.

I have a feeling, judging by the way many of these city signs are "secured" in the sidewalks, there will be many a liberated stop signs available to put up there all too soon.

The gelato at Statis on Washington is pretty darn good.
Plus they have a high tolerance for sample tastings.

I was setting up my classroom in kearny and didn't feel/notice a thing...lousy serviceable school foundations...

That's promising! Maybe I've just been looking into a lot of deadbeat condo buildings who don't pay their fees.

Certainly a unit in a building with more than 10 wouldn't have these problems, but I was looking primarily at 2-4 unit places where each unit comprises of 25% or more of the buildings financial health.

After about 3 months of combing the condo market it has become clear that unless you are a cash buyer it's going to be practically impossible to get financing for downtown condos no matter how qualified one might be because of these newish HOA restrictions.

So far all the banks (around 8-9 for me at this point) have said no loans are possible if the building is over 15% in default on their maintenance fees. Which means any building with 7 or fewer units in it must be completely full and paying their fees.

If just one person is underwater/not paying in (which is a lot more common than I realized!) the building is already over that 15% number and thus no loan if you are looking to buy in, which also handcuffs any of the other owners if they want to sell.

Anyone else running into this problem as of late?
Sounds like there's going to be a ton of Downtown condos flooding the market that will all be unmovable.