3 Years More Than I Anticipated
Considering the last thing I ever thought I’d do in life would be to move to Hoboken, I find it comical May 1st marked my three-year anniversary of residency here. So what is it about this city that keeps me here? Allow me to sum it up for you.
Location, Location, Location.
I like that I can walk out of my apartment door and be in Manhattan in about 8 minutes. During the week in a perfectly ideal scenario, I can ride the PATH for 10/11 minutes to 33rd street, walk 9 blocks North (which takes me about 8 minutes) up 7th street and be at my desk in my Times Square office before half my coworkers who live in Manhattan.
And did I mention the view? I’m too cheap to live on the water but if I walk out of my front door and 1.5 blocks east, the entire skyline will be in front of my face.
The people. ALL of the people.
It’s a mix of everyone. Young, old, not so young but not so old, families, people from my family, people from high school, people from college, coworkers, people I don’t know, people I know but sometimes wish I didn’t, you get the gist - they’re all here.
I don’t need a car.
All of the public transportation! (PATH, light-rail, ferry, bus, uber, rental bikes, etc.)
Listed below are the establishments I’ve come to frequent. They all play an integral role in my survival here in Hoboken.
My favorite wine bar: Sorellina Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar They have a fantastic wine selection, a knowledgeable and friendly wait-staff, and their small plates are delicious. I can’t tell you which ones I enjoy most because I love them all. Just go.
Favorite pizza: Tony B’s & Johnny Pepps Tony Boloney’s is my go-to for slices (drunken slices that is) but Johnny Pepperoni is my ultimate go-to for a pie.
Hands-down favorite brunch: Zach’s Oak Bar and Restaurant Great bloody mary, great omelets, great service, only negative is the inside is a little cramped but I think that’s the Hoboken norm.
Favorite burger and fries: O’nieals I order French fries about 3 times a year (because for some reason whenever I eat French fries I get incredibly sick). So if I’m telling you I sacrifice my health for these fries, order the damn fries.
My go-to sushi spot(s): Illuzion Sushi & Sushi Lounge Okay so if I’m in the mood to gorge myself on sushi from my living room couch, I’ll be ordering from Illuzion. Specifically 1 side salad, 1 Iron Lady Special Roll, 1 Spicy Tuna Roll, and a can of seltzer. They’re also a great byob, especially in the warmer months when you can get a table outside. If I’m going to want a cocktail with my sushi (specifically a cucumber martini!) I head to Sushi Lounge. They too have a nice area for outdoor seating.
My preferred nail salon: Nail Atelier They’re not the cheapest but they’re clean and their nail technicians are almost all consistent. They do a great pedicure (especially the callus removal one) and they also do a decent eyebrow wax.
My favorite coffee spot (after my daily venti blonde from Starbucks that is): Empire Coffee & Tea Co. They’re always rotating their featured flavors, they’re cheap, and their storefront is adorable.
The best wings I’ve had here yet (I don’t even have a qualifying runner-up): Mikie Squared This took me 2.5 years to figure out and it will take a lot for me to feel otherwise.
… and now that you know I’m a fat kid at heart, these are the places I turn to so I can burn all the above off. ..
My favorite running routes (fueled by convenience and scenery): My most frequent length to run is a little over 4 miles. I leave my apartment, loop around Pier A, head North along the water ensuring to run out on the pier before 13th street, and again on the 14th street pier, continue West along the water (so that the Hudson Tea is on my left), make a left on to Garden, another left on to 14th street, and a right on Washington until I get to 1st. Another good one is to go through the Hoboken Terminal and head South along the water through Newport into Jersey City (if you keep going straight you’ll eventually hit a dead end after the Colgate sign that’s a little ways past Exchange Place).
Favorite Gym: Crunch They offer a decent amount of classes at decent times and outside of January and February, they’re not too packed. The only thing that’s no decent is their price.
Favorite Yoga Studio: Powerflow Yoga I’ve never taken a class I didn’t like.
I wish I could name my favorite bar but there are too many to name. There has always been a bar to suit my needs though. Whether it’s a game, a certain social setting, or a specific cocktail, I can count on it to be here.
If you ever find yourself seeking a recommendation, I’d be more than happy to help you narrow your search down. And keep in mind I too am always open to new places! So if you’ve been somewhere you think I should be trying, don’t hesitate to let me know about it! And cheers… to another year in the city I never expected to call home!