'Hip' music in the Square
Free concerts three times per week all season

Ricardo Kaulessar
Hudson Reporter
04/27/2008

Journal Square is not quite the center of activity it once was in its heyday, when there were three major movie theaters and numerous shops and restaurants. But it's still got the Journal Square PATH Station, and shoppers can anticipate a new $600 million two--tower project proposed for construction around the area.

In the meantime, each spring and summer the Square becomes a lively circle of activity with a famer's market, sidewalk vendors, and the annual Live Music Lunchtime Series.

The May-to-September music series is organized by the Journal Square Restoration Corporation and sponsored by the City of Jersey City as well as various businesses including the Jersey City Reporter and Jersey City Magazine.

The Journal Square Restoration Corporation (JSRC) is a private, not-for-profit corporation representing business and commercial property owners and institutional interests in the Journal Square Special Improvement District (SID), the largest of four special improvement districts designated to operate in Jersey City.

Who's playing

The performances occur on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The series features performers from the New York--New Jersey metropolitan area with a variety of musical styles, from the Brazilian jazz of Monika Oliviera to the blues stylings of Son Lewis.

Among the local performers scheduled to perform in the series is Jersey City saxophonist Bryan Beninghove.

Expanded

The music series started out in 2005 as a Wednesday--only event, but it was expanded to three days a week last year.

Diana Vitrano, special events coordinator for the JSRC, said the lunchtime series came about because of the large amount of employees who work in various businesses in the Journal Square area.

"We wanted to bring music at lunchtime to show the Square was not just about eating and shopping but about having fun," Vitrano said.

She said the series has become a hit with the people who are fortunate enough to take the time to see the performers.

"We've gotten feedback from some of the people who visit Journal Square, the businesses and the board members [of the JSRC], all of whom we're enjoying it," Vitrano said.

Among the business people who are impressed by the music series is Elliot Braha of Lord's Children Wear on Kennedy Blvd.

"This music series will attract people to the area, it will bring good feeling to those coming to Journal Square," Braha said.

Vitrano gave credit during the interview to the various sponsors responsible for making the music series possible and supporting other Journal Square Restoration Corporation programs, with acknowledgement to the Hudson Reporter, Midas Auto Shop, the Jersey City Asian Merchant Corporation, Provident Bank, and the City of Jersey City.

For more information on the music series, visit www.thenewjournalsquare.com.

To comment on this story, e-mail rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.

SIDEBAR

Who's performing in Journal Square?

This is the schedule of performances for the music series in Journal Square from May to June as provided by the Journal Square Restoration Corporation.

The performances occur on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Friday, May 2 - Monika Oliveira
Saturday, May 3 - C-Dreams
Wednesday, May 7 - Nicole Hart
Friday, May 9 - Nat Janoff
Saturday, May 10 - Son Lewis
Wednesday, May 14 - Papos Swing
Friday, May 16 - C-Dreams
Saturday, May 17 - Butterball
Wednesday, May 21 - Monika Oliveira
Friday, May 23 - Nicole Hart
Saturday, May 24 - Son Lewis
Wednesday, May 28 - Exodus Supreme
Friday, May 30 - Juan Santos
Saturday, May 31 - Butterball
Wednesday, June 4 - Greg Murphy
Friday, June 6 - Nicole Hart
Saturday, June 7 - Charlie Jones
Wednesday, June 11 - Exodus Supreme
Friday, June 13 - C-Dreams
Saturday, June 14 - Tex Doyle
Wednesday, June 18 - Juan Santos
Friday, June 20 -- Greg Murphy
Saturday, June 21 -- Son Lewis
Wednesday, June 25 -- Bryan Beninghove
Friday, June 27 -- To be announced