You know -- mother of two here, three if you add in the stepdaughter (all grown up now).

Every time i have occasion to be in Hamilton Park, I can't help but think how much my brood would have LOVED to have spent some chill summer days with a simple picnic and running around that playground and little water park.

Wait ... that seems so ... reasonable and sensible and an excellent compromise. This is Jersey City. Are you sure? :)

Yep, I've worked at home for 22 years in the court reporting field, and may (finally) be interested in having some space out of the house, if it's a peaceful work retreat, where I can get some peace and quiet away from the spouse and college-graduate kid about to move home and the needy dogs ... and give me an excuse for a little human interaction and maybe to wear something other than sweats and PJs all day. :)

I'm downtown, too, and would be interested in space close to home, walking distance, closer to Harismus Cove/the Village than the waterfront.

"Working at home" oftentimes means family and friends think your schedule is 100 percent flexible. But it's not.

And after the aforementioned 22 years of working in the house, I'm finally convinced they will NEVER get it.

Would really consider something in that price range just to have a place to bounce too when it gets chaotic here. And to dress in something that goes with my high heels.

Ms. Sara, the chef at 9th and Coles makes amazing Shrimp & Grits and Apple Pie French Toast.

Madam Claude for eggs benedict.

Roman Nose for their spin on the egg sammie

Gia Gelato for French Toast all day, any day.

Went to this last night -- bought tickets on a whim last week. It was fan-freakin-tastic. Young chefs doing their thing. Highly recommended. Will make it a point to go back for the next one.

Ugh, this place is amazing, probably my favorite 'new business" downtown -- food, ambiance, service -- it's all stellar. Someone needs to fix this. This is the kind of place that needs NOT to be deterred

I am a Fresh Direct disciple. I use the delivery pass and sometimes I will do several small orders in a week. I love to cook, semi-talented if I do say so myself, and I like to buy my ingredients when the cooking bug bites. Love the convenience of just logging on, double-checking ingredients of recipes against my order. Keeps me organized.

As an apartment dweller without a car, I love it. Especially in the winter when hitting the market, super or farmer's or P&K -- and now Carrino Provisions -- is not an attractive thought.

Any minor issues I've ever had (a lost box, late delivery) have been immediately resolved by their customer service dept.

And +1 for having large items delivered and schlepped up to the second floor, like water bottles, paper towels, etc.

I'm wondering if City Diner deliverys that early on the weekends -- just got a thing that said they deliver until 1 a.m., but wonder what time they start on Saturdays. It may be worth a phone call now that they say they're open 24 hours.

I am very, very particular about my hair ... and when I moved to JC I went to four different salons downtown before I found the CLEAR winner: Tousled

Lula is a genius at color.

Rita, the owner subbed in once when Lula was away and it was seamless.

Gianna cuts my hair -- simply brilliant at handling curly hair, whether you wear it curly and crazy (which I do mostly) or blow it out.

My color service is $100 -- single process. Worth every penny.

I think my cut without blowout is about $70. I don't generally have her blow it out, that's extra I believe. And Gianna is so talented with curly hair I only need to see her 3x a year.

Rates above are before tips.

Yesterday I grabbed some fresh spaghetti, ground pork, canned la valle san marzano tomatoes, a loaf of bread, and a half-dozen cannoli and a can of Illy coffee ... defrosted some ground beef, went classic spaghetti and my (if I do say so myself) legendary meatballs, invited over some neighbors and Sunday dinner was a huge hit. I'm tickled this place is in the 'hood, 'yall.

Very excited about this addition to the neighborhood and wasn't disappointed at all.

The foodie in me is all a'twitter.

Had an excellent macchiato and cannolli ... wandered through an hour ago, menu-planning in my head.

Sammies at the Second Street Bakery

2nd Street between Monmouth and Brunswick was a hot mess for weeks with the water main thing

Stopped in with my daughter on Wednesday early afternoon -- we stood at the door for a few minutes shaking off the rain and snow, no one from staff greeted us, sat us, told us to find a seat -- awkwardly stood around for another minute or so trying to catch someone's eye ... then walked out.

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Hah. I see what you did there ... made me chuckle.

I like Monica Kress. Professional educator, hands-on experience in administration and as a teacher, both in inner-city environments. Local business-owner. And a nice, seemingly sane and intelligent person. Young, vibrant, willing to serve, with the credentials to back it up. What's not to like?

Most times late afternoon,early evening (I'm also in the village) for standard shipments.

The Lamp Post is my go-to football spot. Nice crew of regular fans. All the games.

Seriously. A conceptual sort of step in the right direction, if you will ... for Pete's sake.

Since they put the new stop sign on Brunswick at 2nd Street in my neighborhood, I've spent the last few months perfecting my Jersey City Pedestrian Look of Admonishment at drivers who come barreling down Brunswick on their way to the Turnpike via Columbus ... sometimes it requires a presence a foot or two into the crosswalk -- with the right hand in the WTF shrug position and the left pointing to the stop sign, with optional yelling. But I'm doing my part. You're welcome

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So inappropriate meaning EVER on the sidewalk, right?

It's such a peeve of mine. If you're over the age of 8 or 10, please get you and your moving bicycle the hell off the sidewalk. And stay off. If you don't have the stomach or balls or skills for riding in the street in an urban environment, ESPECIALLY if there's a bike lane -- here's a concept: WALK.

I don't feel sorry for you at all.

You got a problem with the asshat drivers being a hazard to you, take it up with them, and get out of the way of the pedestrians. Period.

Please, and thank you.

I walked by White Eagle on Monday -- if it's done by the fall I will eat my hair.

^^^^ "the little sundry shop near Gia's on Newark" -- that's you! :)

Love your place.

I moved to The Village neighborhood spring of 2012 -- and I absolutely love it.

It's very diverse.

The Lamp Post is a great neighborhood spot.

Does the area have its "moments" Sure. But I made it a point early on to get to know my neighbors -- including the regulars and owners/managers of the "scary" Latin Lounge and Indio's (really? Not so scary.)

Yeah, Latin Lounge can be a little weird on Weekend nights when there's an influx of non-hood folks that come into the area. And all the bars can get a little loud.

But you know, you move onto a block with bars -- it's gonna happen.

I think it's a great mix of young artsy types, professionals, blue collar folks -- and maybe anex-showgirl hippie. ;)

All races and orientations and income levels seem well represented. New people and generations of families that have lived in the neighborhood forever. I love the diversity.

The HS kids can induce a little aggravation mid-day when they're hanging -- but you know, they're knucklehead teenagers, not scary thugs. I always have a smile and a hey for them, too.

The daycare kids out for their afternoon strolls are adorable. Everybody seems to have a dog.

I don't know -- City living, dudes. It's just .... know your neighbors, be a presence in your community, and things seem to flow from there. People are people and just living life, you know?

Love that new spots are opening up regularly -- Union Republic, Tachair Books, Gia's, the little sundry shop near Gia's on Newark -- and then the old-school bakeries like 2nd Street and Pecoraro's are conspiring to keep that extra 15 pounds on my ass!

And now ... let me just say that brand new 3rd & Vine spot is a-frickin-mazing. I put myself into the most lovely wine and cheese coma a few days ago at that place!

Anyway, I fall a little more in love with this neighborhood every day. I like its character. It works for me. I rarely, if ever, feel unsafe in my neighborhood.

Are their prices really that steep for a manly-bro spa-like experience? I think it sounds nice. And maybe worth it.

To compare (and yes, I'm a total girlie girl) I pay roughly the below for my stuff (net -- then I tip!)

$65-75 for a haircut every 2.5 months. Only because I have long, curly hair that doesn't need it every 6 weeks and my stylist is a genius.

$80-100 for a very specific color every 6 weeks done by another genius at my salon

(Gianna and Lula at Tousled on Jersey Ave, btw, are the geniuses. Brilliant, those two.)

$30 for a gel manicure every two weeks.

$25 for a pedicure once a month.

$15 on eyebrow and lip waxing every 3 weeks.

The above is just maintenance.

Then a few times a year I get a facial or a body scrub or some other specialized treatment at a day spa for $50 to $75 range each service.

And I'd rather pay for a nice "pampering experience" and for a very skilled professional across the board, since my hair and face and hands (and sometimes feet) are out there for the world to see, and you know, for me to see in the mirror.

Sounds like this place is a nice salon-esque place -- but for the menfolk, and similar/parallel to a high-end salon or day spa for women.

I say PAMPER yourselves, guys! It's not cheap, but trust me, if the staff at Virile know their stuff and the end result is great ... it's a nice way to spend a few hours!!!

Thank you both!!

All right. Would someone be nice enough to give me the quick-and-dirty on the little dollar buses? I moved from the 'burbs to DTJC 2 years ago ... and in the intervening period, realized I had no desire to have a car anymore, gave mine to my college-aged kiddo this past August ... and now am all about hoofing it or public transportation.

Now I like walking, but this week, with the cold, snow, ice, et cetera, and needing to hit the mall, I figure it's time for me to get acquainted with the little buses. But I confess to being a little intimidated by the unknown culture of it all.

So when one comes through my neighborhood and seems to stop at Newark and Monmouth, what ... I flag it down, jump on, hand the driver the fare in cash, and tell him I need to go to the mall? And then find one from the mall headed back up Newark Ave? Is it that simple?

Got mine in mail, too

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Just ... wow.

Ewww. I hate pumping gas ... like a peasant. Lived in NJ all my life ... and so help me, I hope they never, ever change the attendant-only service laws in NJ in my lifetime.