I took a walk around this evening and noticed this and several other new places in the Heights. Froth on Franklin looks like a coffee shop coming just down the block from The Heights Cafe, The Cliff over on Congress St and something is coming to the old Goerhing bakery on Central.

I start cherry/plum tomatoes and basil from seed in paper cups in my window at my office at work in mid March. In the end of March I start kale directly seeded in the ground (maybe earlier this year). In early May I will bring tomato seedlings home (people always look on the PATH train as if I have marijuana plants. After a few or so of bringing them outside by day/inside at night I will put in ground in middle of May.

Around the same time I thin out the kale and soon after they get big. From about Memorial Day through early December I make kale smoothies a few days/week. From end of July through late Sept/early Oct I have tomato salads, tomato basil soup/etc.

I have tried other things but in small space I get the most bang for the buck with kale/tomatoes/basil.

I live on Beach St in the heights with my wife, son (just turned 3 last week) and daughter (almost 18 months). Currently, my kids go to a daycare in Paramus right near my wife's office. We like this place and have the option of sending them there through kindergarten.

We are now starting to look at pre-school/elementary school/after care options in JC. We heard that PS 25 was a decent place but found out today that Beach St actually goes to PS 31 on JFK closer to JSQ. Any thoughts on this school?

We have heard about the pre k 3 at Concordia and about several days of waiting on line for a spot and will have to look at the logistics of this.

What about the private day cares that offer pre k?

Does anybody have any ideas, suggestions , experience etc on this topic?

Our family gets most of our groceries from Stop and Shop with Peadpod deliveries. We used to go to Stop and Shop on Central Ave but getting it delivered saves time and they often come after kids are in bed.

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Do you know where on Beach this would be? l live on this street and can't picture where this would be.

I did see that up on JFK that Ace Taxi is gone and the adjoining lots had house demolished so something must be going here/

Wow, this Dulce de Leche is really game changer for me that is going to raise the bar in the Heights.. I don't want to raise expectations for anyone who has not tried it yet but quality is an A, ambiance is an A, and prices are way less than places of similar quality. I had a sausage sandwich on fresh bread with some kind of delicious sauce with fries for like 6.99. I shared an egg sandwich on a croissant, some type of spinach mini quiche, a few empanadas and was very pleased.
I just may have to gain 20 lbs this winter!

http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index ... de_leche_bakery_open.html

I can't believe I missed that Dulce de Leche bakery opened on Central. I walked by at closing time last night and it looks beautiful. Their first one is way up in North Bergen and the 2 times I went it was packed and everything I tried was delicious. I may have to walk over for breakfast in a few hours!

The new bar has opened. I walked by around 630 last night and there was a decent crowd. Not sure if they have food but I will have to check it out sometime.

I noticed a vacant store front a year or so ago in handsome brick building at Liberty and St Paul's. Not sure what had been there previously (there used to be a bar around there that closed about 15 years ago but I think was another spot) with a nice big window and corner location it felt like something should be there. I noticed some work happening there this year and finally figured out what is happening - some type of eatery:

https://www.facebook.com/Square1jc/abo ... ut_item&ref=page_internal

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I just took an evening stroll through the heights and saw a Japanese place is opening on Central. A few of the existing restaurants had decent crowds so maybe a restaurant row is in the works. The new Noches de Columbia was packed all the way around at 930 as well as most times I have walked by and when I got food there Sunday at 4pm.

I took off from work today and was walking around and noticed a gelato place is opening next to Pizza Masters (not sure if same owners as Pizza Masters). It also looks like the Wonder Bagels should not be far off from opening (and people were working on the apartments above WB). It could be a handsome brick building so nice to see it going from vacant blight to something useful.

I have seen buses coming from JSQ to Secaucus but not sure where they let out in relation to Harmon Meadow.

I saw this earlier today. I actually used Joe and his father for the closing on my current house and previous condo. I thought he was a stand up guy.

I noticed on Saturday that the PJ Ryan's in JSQ was open - not sure if it was a soft opening but there were definitely a few people at the bar. Also, I noticed several tables of people at the new Noodle Fan yesterday.

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Funny you should mention this - I always wondered if there were cornices hiding under the vinyl siding, I recently noticed a house on Hutton St with about a quarter of the vinyl removed from the top leaving the original cornice visible.

Has anyone gone through the process of fully removing the vinyl siding? Is it too costly + the risk of having brick in bad shape underneath?

I play this game twice daily along the boulevard between my house and JSQ. Double points for the more dangerous intersections - 139, St. Paul's, and Carlton.

I was thinking this week of what part of life in JC is the most trying. To me it really might be the risk of getting hit by a turning car on JFK as well as risk of some type of accident/fender bender while driving on JFK. The specter of being victim of more serious crime is further in the back of my mind but keeping your head on a swivel for bad drivers is more of a constant.

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I have noticed that building that is being partially covered by the storefront and always wondered what the heck if anything was up there. Good to see something happening with it.

One other JSQ thing I have been wondering is what if anything is happening above the JSQ pub (I think it was Hotel on the Square). Last June there was a sign about an auction of the building but I never heard of any outcome or plans for the building.

I did not know about Modells coming to Journal Square (wasn't there a footlocker for a few years somewhat recently) but here are my observations/questions of the past few weeks around Journal Square:

1. The PJ Ryan's 2 looks pretty close to ready - hopefully that would be imminent. It is a big space and I can't quite fathom the crowd it will attract - maybe those who want a dive bar will continue at the Journal Sq Pub and those who don't will try PJ Ryan's. Looking at the space in front of it I also wonder if there might be some outside seating (although not much of a view).

2. Most of the windows are installed on the first Journal Square tower - I wonder if this will be completed and people moving in by year end? Very curious to see the prices and the people that pay would pay them.

3. 3075 Kennedy Blvd (a few blocks up from the square next to the school) looks like it has some people living in it but not sure if the lobby/ground floor are completed as there is still a construction fence in front of the property. There are new buildings behind this one that also seemed to be getting finished slowly - not sure if this is the same owner/complex.

4. I tried the Noodle Fan in the heights with my family last Saturday and enjoyed the food/service/decent ambiance. Not sure when the one in JSQ will be open but if it is on par with one in heights then would be good addition to neighborhood.

5. The building next to the Chase Bank (I think 3 JSQ) is now 7 stories and I think heading to 13 stories. It started out slowly building on top of the parking garage but seems like it is moving at a good pace now.

6. I have seen the 25 Senate shuttle van the past few weeks so those apts must be getting rented out. I have noticed over the past year a smattering of artist types exiting JSQ in the mornings (presumably headed towards Mana Contemporary area and presumable coming from a more expensive place to live) so maybe some more of these will try living in the area A ModCup was planned to open there I thought this month but not sure when?

Has anyone gotten their tap water tested for lead, etc and can anyone recommend a company that does this for home drinking water? I found this list of companies in NJ but if anyone has recommendations please let me know. http://mods.ridgewoodnj.net/pdf/water/2013LeadLabs.pdf I never really thought about it but with 2 small children I am curious to see how our tap water stacks up.

Thanks!

I noticed this weekend that on JFK (where Mister Gusto was for several years and where an Afgan place was for a short period) a sign for Noodle Fan Thai. Not sure when they will open but I believe there is another location on Central ave. Any opinions on the existing location?

I think this article is different than earlier NY Times JC pieces in that it discusses JSQ/Heights/Bergen-Lafayette as alternatives to downtown JC as much as it points to JC as an alternative to NYC.

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I noticed that the logo on the window on the way to work this morning - at first I thought it was an Albanian flag, but realized it was for PJ Ryan's. I have been wondering what the first new type of restaurant would show up at JSQ. Once the 54 story tower behind JSQ is complete these people would have to walk right by the new PJ Ryans to get to trains.

I don't know dates have been announced but mayor Fulop mentioned at meeting that he will hold similar events at the other parts of the city.

I think the new Wonder Bagel will be on Central Ave across from Burger King. I am not sure how long until it opens?

I had heard that Choco Pain was opening on Palisades so maybe this is the one mentioned in 1st post?

I happened into this little new Thai restaurant on Baldwin (I think 311 just north of Newark Ave) Saturday night. It is very small with 2 tables and does take out (no delivery yet). I am no Thai expert but the pad thai with pork belly I had was excellent. It looks like a one man show with the owner doing everything. I can't quite describe the decor but although definitely not an expensive fitout is somewhat interesting and inviting. My wife and sister in law tried it yesterday and liked as well.

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You will be glad they are there when you find you need that quart of milk or whatever you forgot to buy at the market the day before, but don't have the time to run out and get it now.[/quote]

Also - they can serve as dependable place to have packages shipped while you were are at work.

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The best way to afford a brownstone may be to take time machine back to the mid 90s. I remember when I was at Saint Peter's College my parents clipped/saved for me the article linked below.

http://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/12/rea ... innings.html?pagewanted=2

SOME of the better residential areas surround Hamilton and Van Vorst Parks and the Paulus Hook Historic District, where the first permanent white settler, Michael Paulusen, a Dutch trader, built his home in 1633 and started trading with the Communipaw Indians. One-family brick or brownstone rowhouses range in price from $125,000 to $170,000, according to Ms. Skolar.

In all seriousness there are rows of brownstones/brick rowhouses scattered in other parts of town if you are open to looking outside of downtown. My block on the western slope in the heights is one of them and a 2 fam was on the market last year for $525K but did not end up selling as the price was a little high I think.

On the way to work yesterday there were 2 undercover cops frisking someone who I think must have been panhandling around the turnstiles (I think they turned him lose with a warning not to panhandle at the station). This morning I noticed that the usual few people asking for money were not around.

Could this be orders from above to clean up the station? I am not sure if this is a temporary crackdown but has anyone else noticed this?

I have not been to Astor Bar in years but remember thinking that their burgers were always better than Park Tavern. Just may have go back and see if they are still good.

I tried Fox and the Crow for 1st time last week and NYC price aside really enjoyed the burger and ambiance.

I just came back from Wonder Bagels on Sip for first time this summer. French Toast Bagel with butter and jelly is out of this world. The bagel with cream cheese, lox, capers etc is a good value at $7.75.

They said the location on Central ave is in the works but was a little cagey on the exact details. Other locations also possibly in the planning stages!