Thanks, I appreciate the ideas! And I also appreciate knowing that I'm not totally nuts; there did used to be a dump site on 440, right? I swear that in the past I was able to dump at JCIA on Rte 440 - but it must have been a more distant past than I remember. I've lived here a long time. . .

I don't have enough garbage right now to warrant renting a dumpster, but I will probably try one of the local trash pickup companies for this load. And I anticipate some bigger home improvement projects in the future, so this is all helpful info.

PS I agree that 1-800-Got Junk is very expensive. But they can be pretty great when you have a whole house to clean out and no time/patience to pack everything up - they really go to town, all you need to do is sit back and watch.

Yeah, JCIA phone message says to call Waste Management, and Waste Management says to call JCIA. Waste of time (pun intended). Thanks anyway - if anyone else knows anything different, please chime in.

Like I said, I'm happy to take it somewhere to dump, just don't know where to go, and JCIA doesn't have their own dump site.

Does anyone know how to get rid of construction debris (about 4 canvas bins full of old rotten wood, some with nail/screws in it)? I've tried calling both JCIA and Waste Management to find out if they can pick it up or if there is someplace I can take it to dump it, but both automated phone systems just bounce back to one another. It's too much to put out with my regular garbage - I got a ticket a month ago for accidentally including a cardboard box with my regular non-recyclable garbage, so I don't want to risk that again!

I know you can put out up to 4 bulk items, but I don't think this constitutes bulk items since it's just a bunch of splintery old wood.

I don't think you can add value (dollars) to an unlimited ride Metrocard - you would need to buy a separate pay-per-ride Metrocard in order to be able to add dollars to it.

On an unlimited card, you can only add time - on a pay-per-ride, you can only add value. You can't have both on one card.

I've not heard of Blomberg, but another vote for LG - I got a great deal on an LD washer + dryer from Sears about 4 years ago (one of those special online only "put in your cart to see the price!" deals) and I've been really happy with them. Sears came and took my old ones and installed the new ones.

For the iScrap app - just go to iscrapapp.com and you can find info online also, you don't have to have an iPhone.

If you have a way to transport it, you can take it to Sims Metal Management at Claremont Terminal - they have a "peddler's village" where they will pay you for items with value as scrap like washers + dryers. No idea how much, but that's probably the closest place to sell scrap metal. There's also a great iPhone app called iScrap - you can find local scrap yards, tell them what you have to sell, and compare prices from different yards. Some of them will even come pick the washer up (though they'll probably pay you less if they have to do so).

I myself was not born and raised here (born in Trenton, raised in South Philly), but the first members of my family to emigrate to the US on my father's side all came here in the 1800s, and stayed in Jersey City, Newark and environs for many years (my father was the first to decamp to Philadelphia). I have framed in my house my great-grandparents' marriage certificate from the 1850s - all in old-timey German script except for "Jersey City, New Jersey." So when I returned to J.C. 20 years ago, I felt I was returning to my roots!

I will happily do it for you for free, but I'm a Universal Life minister (internet-ordained). I've done many (20+) wonderful weddings and I'm happy to adapt the ceremony to your preferences, but if you really need an honest-to-God church-having minister, I can't help.

There is sort of an informal arts/local vendor nexus on Bergen Ave btw Duncan and Fairview - there is a shop called Ed's Salvage, Honey Bakery, the Aveda Salon, and a violin studio in that block, and the people that own/run those four places are all sort of cool, quasi-bohemian types that sometimes collaborate on little flea markets and other fun stuff in the neighborhood. I don't know how connected to yoga they might be, but as local small business owners who seem to be having some success in the 'hood with unique businesses, they are probably good people for you to meet and connect with. Those are the kind of places you would want to put up flyers when you get started. Thanks so much for taking the initiative!

Yogacube is on Newark + Tonnele Ave - it's really more of an ayurvedic healing place that sells herbs and does acupuncture; I think they have an occasional yoga class (maybe once a week in the middle of the day) but the few times I've passed by it's not even been open. I don't think you really have to worry about it.

I've lived in this 'hood for nearly 7 years (after 15 years downtown), and trust me, I have scoured the territory looking for yoga. Right now there is only the one class at Super Impact that you mention. Several years ago there was a guy offering weekend hatha classes in the basement of the Aveda Salon on Bergen Ave, but that ended probably 3 years ago.

YES PLEASE! I go to classes in Manhattan and Downtown JC, but I would LOVE to have a studio that I could walk to (I live near McGinley Square). Evening classes (7pm-ish) and early weekend morning classes would be great.

I like SunMoon Yoga downtown, but they have mostly hot yoga (Bikram-style) classes, which are not my thing. A non-hot studio in McGinley Square would be fantastic.

Thanks heights. Wow, that's rotten. I didn't realize they were hit that badly by the storm, I guess they had to throw out so much stuff due to the lack of power for a week that they decided to pack it in? I live nearby and we didn't have bad flooding or anything. Do you know the specifics?

Fellow McGinley Square neighbors - does anyone know if Shelly's Market is closed for good? They had a small sign after the storm that they were closed for renovation or something, but I saw a big "Space Available" sign go up there the other day.

Their food is really delicious. The samosas really are tops. To the poster who asked about tables (sorry I forget your name) - their shop is really tiny, but I think they do have one or two little cafe tables, and when the weather is nice they put a few tables on the patio outside. It's more takeout oriented. But they have nice coffee, and the people there are really friendly and fun to talk to, so if it's not too crowded you can grab a little table and chill.

I bought a new car at Hudson Subaru on Communipaw back in January. I have had a really good experience there -they gave me the price I wanted, were totally transparent with options, loan, paperwork etc. Service department has been great also. If you're interested in a Subaru or a Hyundai (they own Hudson Hyundai too) I would highly recommend them.

Do they ever answer the phone???????

I received a shut-off notice yesterday claiming a bill that I paid via online banking 3 weeks ago, same as I have been doing for 6 years at this address, was never paid.

Anyone else have a similar experience? Or any good ideas about how to get a person on the phone?

I've called several times today and can't seem to get anyone to pick up - just keeps recycling the same annoying hold message over and over - I think I'll be reciting it in my sleep. . .

Not sure about used, but I just had a really good experience buying a new car at Hudson Subaru on Communipaw Ave. I know they have used cars as well but not sure if there is anything in your price range; I think most of their used inventory is only a few years old, but it's worth a shot if you want a Subaru. You can look at their used inventory online, I think it's just hudsonsubaru.com.

Is the parking lot between Newark and Bay Sts (behind LITM) a public metered lot, or is it residential permit only? Are there any other public lots Downtown with metered/short-term parking? I live on the West Side and I (finally!) just got a car - I would like to patronize some of your lovely Downtown businesses in my automobile, but not if I have to park so far away I might as well have walked from Lincoln Park. . .any suggestions appreciated.

Same here - I am signed up for alerts for all PATH lines, and I got two alerts around 4:00 that day about the suspension on the 33rd St lines. The NJ Transit cross-honoring tickets alert didn't come through til much later. I headed for WTC and it wasn't even that much more crowded than usual; I had no problem.

I also waste no chance to criticize the PA, but the PATH alerts as a rule work pretty well for me.

Yes, I checked the Save the Children website again today and also Googled and found the original article in the Washington Post concerning all the Haiti earthquake scams. That is what really makes this kind of thing shameful to me, other than the obvious shame of bilking people out of their money for uncharitable purposes - the fact that they pretend to be from legitimate organizations gives those organizations an unfair bad name.

This guy was clearly a scammer; he had a few raggedy sheets of scribbled-on paper, no ID, no pamphlets or even any contact information for his purported charity (as noted by one of the other posters above), and kept insisting they needed immediate cash donations for some unclear reason - in 2011 when you can donate to pretty much any legitimate charity on the web that just doesn't wash.

I had a clean-cut teenager, frecklefaced white boy w/red hair, come to my door last night around 9pm soliciting for Save the Children. I remember this was a big thing right after the Haiti earthquake, with lots of donation scams going on, and Save the Children very adamantly stated that they do not solicit donations door-to-door. I didn't give anything to this fellow but just wanted everyone to be aware that this is going on. No idea what he was really up to but that kind of thing always puts me on edge - I can't help but think there is more to it than just trying to scam donations. So be on the lookout.

I've been in JC for 23 years; the only time I remember the PATH being entirely shut down (other than 9/11) was not actually due to snow. It was the Halloween Nor'easter of 1991, which dumped so much wind-driven rain so quickly during the night that the underground stations were flooded, i.e. water in the track beds up to and over the platforms. I had spent the night in Hoboken and couldn't get back to JC for most of the day - PATH was flooded, the whole low-lying area between Hoboken and downtown JC by the A+P shopping center was flooded and cars couldn't pass, and the 14th St viaduct and Heights road were closed due to danger of the big stone retaining wall crumbling. As I recall though everything was back to semi-normal later that afternoon.

Yes, I know there is a lot of hate for Comcast around here and there are lots of things I do hate about them, but my service has been fine all day today.

I don't have a car but I do have a spacious driveway next to my house, so I let one of my neighbors park his car there - a couple of weeks ago someone actually came up the driveway at 6:15 on a Sat morning and smashed his passenger side window. I was up and heard the noise but by the time I got to the window the smasher had run away. Note my driveway is not one of the short ones right in front of the house, it is full length (3 cars) and runs alongside my house. There was clearly nothing in the car and he leaves the glove box open to show that there is nothing worth taking there. Moral of the story is it really doesn't seem to matter, crackheads be crackheads and if they think they see an opportunity they will take it even if it makes no sense to a rational person. But it really creeped me out that they actually came off the street and up the driveway. Even on your own property it seems your vehicle is not safe.

I didn't always hate Comcast, but my Internet service has gotten pretty bad - they finally convinced me to hang around all day on a weekend to get my modem/router replaced, and now my service is worse than ever, cutting in and out all the time, just absolute crap for all the frakking money I pay these twerps. And of course their only suggestion is to wait around for another technician.

But I can't get Fios in my hood (not sure why) and I'm not technically savvy enough to know what other options would be. I'm not as concerned about the TV, mostly the Internet - but does anyone have the DirecTV/Verizon DSL deal? Comments?

Any other options for TV/internet I should be considering?

Comcast TV is mostly OK but I would love to get rid of them altogether, I am so frustrated right now.

I've lived on Jewett btw Bergen and JFK for 4 years (I too am youngish female although I am 5'10" and 160 lbs) - as the poster above mentions my block is pretty nice and is generally quiet and safe-feeling. But it does change a lot when you cross Bergen and head towards Monticello. And I'm generally home at a decent hour; I wouldn't recommend it if you come home late every night. I've never had a problem on the walk along Bergen from the PATH even late at night, but I've only done it after 10pm maybe two or three times.

I don't know about all this gunshot business but it is definitely not an area for the non-street savvy or where you want to be out on the street late at night.

Guess I am the lone voice of dissent on this thread so far - I actually am rarely home to accept packages, but my Fed Ex guy will either go to one of two neighbors who are usually home if a signature is required, or will go around back of my house and leave packages in a protected area on my back porch if I leave a note. Very rarely have I received a "not able to deliver" tag. My UPS guy will sometimes go to a neighbor, but he has also (many times) left a door tag during the day, and then come BACK the same day after 7pm to try again at a time he knows I am more likely to be home. My experience with both has been very positive. But I don't live downtown...guess things are just different up here on the hill!

PS My mailman Roger is awesome too.

Does anyone tip the garbage men? If so how? I would like to, because I think they're really great - they have taken the most ridiculous things from in front of my house - but other than waiting outside at 4am for them to come by on garbage day don't know how I would do it. Also don't know if it's "normal"/traditional to do?

My boyfriend always yells at me when I walk home late instead of taking a cab - but the cabs are often scarier than the walk! Last cab ride from JSQ involved queries from the driver as to whether I'd ever "had an Egyptian" and whether I had room for him in my house (which he had evidently memorized the location of, having dropped me off once before) - and the presence of the boyfriend at home seemed to present no deterrent to his determination.

Not to mention all the thread-relevant issues like no meters, crazy driving, stuffing ten people in a cab etc. It's impossible to explain to out-of-town visitors what an odyssey a JC cab ride can be.