UGH! It's back with a vengeance here in Paulus Hook. I didn't smell it as much on the street, but it's blowing in good and heavy into my fifth floor apartment (facing west).

Jesus, this is painful.

I have nothing against picketing. Nothing against union workers.

BUT, it was final exam week at St. Peter's Prep, I'm sure all of the whistling and chanting was conducive to test taking.

Also, it's sort of catchy: "There's a rat in the building! RAT GO HOME!"

The smell is pretty bad in Paulus Hook, too. It almost smells like an electrical fire (which had me wandering sound my apartment feeling outlets and sniffing the cord to my laptop).

What a terrible smell. Here's hoping for the humidity to lift!

Floris (on the corner of Greene and Grand) is wonderfully clean. Basic manicure is $12 PLUS they give you a five minute chair massage.

Best value in downtown.

I absolutely second the ricotta gnocchi and white beans at Satis.

I am utterly OBSESSED with the butter poached lobster gnocchi at the Lighthorse.

And the simple garlic shrimp at Marco and Pepe.

I used to love the Galbi short rib taco from the Krave truck, but the meat doesn't seem very short-ribby anymore.

Off the original topic, but for those interested in the Nike cost of manufacturing and sweatshop abuse:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5uYCWVfuPQ

I have paid all of my parking tickets online and have never gotten any sort of receipt in the mail. It says on the payment page that you should print that as your receipt.

A friend and I went to Shampoo again on Saturday. Single process was $70 and single process with a blowdry was $90.

Both very happy with the color and the experience overall. I think this is going to be my go-to rather than going into the Village.

My normal colorist is at Kayrun Hirsh in the Village, but twice now I've had emergency root touch-ups at ShampooJC on Christopher Columbus. It was the same woman both times, but I'm afraid i can't remember her name.

They only take cash, so if you make an appointment, make sure you bring enough.

Both colorings were A-OK as far as root touch-ups go. The price was less than getting a color in the city, but not inexpensive.

Update:

Thanks folks for weighing in. I'd initially brought my car to Avel Autoworks on Marin. I was given a quote of a bit over $900, saying I needed a new oxygen sensor, the entire front exhaust pipe and gaskets. To be fair, he actually brought me out and showed me the underside of the car. (Although, I wasn't sure what I was looking for.)

I told him I couldn't afford the price and was told that I'd not be able to pass inspection with out all of those things being done.

So, I followed JCList wisdom and drove the car over to Joe's. They were great. I told them I wasn't in a hurry because I don't use my car for work (and I'd brought it late in the day on Monday).

Long story short, my car was ready yesterday. For $550. No replacing the oxygen sensor. And the pipe that I was told at Avel could only be purchased for around $700 was purchased for about $350 at Joe's.

I saved $400. Yay! And I've found a new mechanic! Thanks folks!

If you're looking for somewhere close, I've gone up to Palisades Interstate Park. Beautiful natural and urban views. You can walk down to the river in some places as well. Plenty of parking, too. It's absolutely gorgeous in the fall.

I need a new muffler (or tail pipe). Or both.

I've gone to A-1 Autoworks for a number of things. I never really felt like they were trying to fish for other things to fix, but I've read lots of reviews where people had terrible experiences. Times are lean and I don't need phantom issues with my car.

Does anyone have a trusted auto repair person in JC? I live in Paulus Hook, so it would be nice if it was downtown (so I could walk home from the drop off and walk to pick up). But I'm willing to go elsewhere if it means I can trust the shop.

Thanks!

Love getting a crepe on my way home from work.

But I'm confused about the new location. It's can't be on Warren can it if it's across from City Hall? I live off of Warren in Paulus Hook. And while I'd be delighted as punch for them to be in my neck of the woods, it's a bit confusing.

While I'm away most of the summer and don't get a chance to attend many of the events near the Grove PATH, I do frequent the farmers market and occasional Groove on Grove when I'm in town.

My only question about this is that the petition asks that things are allowed to continue at Grove Pointe. Is that little triangle there actual property belonging to the Grove Pointe building? In which case, the folks who live there certainly have something to say. It does seem odd that the space with the PATH entrance/exit and the sidewalk area in front of the drug store and Dunkin' Donuts would be property belonging to a residential building, but in Jersey City, who knows?

If it's indeed PUBLIC space, then, while I support anyone's right to speak publicly and petition against things they find undesirable about their community, my thought is REALLY!?! Unless the Groove on Grove was groovin' until midnight, it's simply the beauty of living in an urban area.

Is this ever going to open? Of course, I know I should know better than to ask about something ever opening in Jersey City, but I want it OPEN!

Ida,

I think $1800 for something with any outdoor space AND a washer/dryer seems low. I think something like that would probably run at least $2100 or more.

However, if you DO find all that for $1800, let us know! That would be a great get.

Best of luck with the move!

Just got back from the candy store! Yay! I selected a half pound box of chocolates and had a great time filling a bag with candy (chiclets. scotties, sour grapefruits, Swedish fish, etc.).

The fact that they have multiple flavors of PopRocks means that I'll be back!

There was a family with children who must already be repeat customers as the folks working seemed to know them. Fantastic. I think it's a lovely little addition to the neighborhood. A terrible addition to my weight.

Welcome to the neighborhood, How Sweet It Is.

I'd second ABTees. I use to use Anthony all the time while I was teaching in JC and needed lots of random t-shirts.

Nothing fancy, but the work was done well, quickly and not expensively.

You can get Manchego downtown at a number of places, including the wine shop (Liberty Wine and Spirits) on the corner of Washington and Morris in Paulus Hook and

And while you're there, if you're lucky they'll have their fresh bread in the basket in front. It looks quite like a baguette, but I believe is made using pizza dough. It's heavenly.

Our building has what looks to be the "official" sign up on the front door, but that doesn't stop anyone from throwing stacks of menus, coupons, etc. into our entry hall.

Short of driving to those business and throwing them back in their front doors, what's the proper course of action?

My leather boots are suffering from too much slop and salt! (Thank you Jersey City for your excellent plowing and clearing of street corners.) Any recommendations for a good place to take my boots for a cleaning/shine/water-proofing?

Oddly, the best shines I've gotten in the past have been at the airport! But I hate to buy a plane ticket just to get past security to get my boots shined.

I live downtown, if that's helpful?

Thanks!

I don't miss too much about Oddfellows, but they had a fantastic pain perdu ... with a NEST of bacon on top. That was tasty. Now I'm wanting french toast. ...

We were all excited to finally try it out today, but alas they DON'T deliver during the day? They said they'd deliver after 6:00.

By 6:00 I'll have eaten somewhere else.

I need lunch recommendations!

I'm holed up working this afternoon, but would to have some BBQ delivery.

Has anyone tried the brisket??

Not sure the math is correct. Bypassing Christopher through 23rd might save you about 2 minutes., as TommyC said. You still would actually have to go through the stations if I'm not mistaken? Either way, that's a tight world to live in if it's down to 2 minutes in the morning!

I say this as a Grove - 14th commuter, of course.

Nothing was read at OLC today. Thankfully, we were too busy celebrating the start of Advent to have it read.

Has anyone gone to any of the films yet? And I'm a bit confused by the "limited to 24 people" comment from an earlier film.

Perhaps someone could clear this up? I don't want to make plans to head over for the evening and find out 24 people have already shown up. And do we need to bring beach chairs, etc? Or is there seating?

Thanks!

Of course I'm aware cooks smoke. I just wouldn't expect to walk into a restaurant and see the cook standing over the grill with his cigarette hanging from his lips, while the smoke makes all the would-be fresh food not so fresh.

I'm not a weenie. But that just grossed me out.

I thought we were the only ones who get annoyed by that guy who sprawls out! And if you dare to walk between the table and the door, he throws out the evil eye! Unreal!

I saw the truck parked on Christopher Columbus across from Chase a couple of days ago. I was super excited to see Korean BBQ!

And then I walked around to the serving window and someone was actually SMOKING INSIDE THE SERVING AREA. Gross.

I realize that food trucks aren't bastions of cleanliness all the time, but the idea of someone smoking inside the 4x6 space where food is being prepared and served didn't do it for me.

Booooooooo. I'm sad.