JC Live Wire Currents

Downtown, 01/26/25 - This past Sunday Jersey City showed its support and concern for Gazans in the aftermath of the war with Israel, which was declared a permanent ceasefire two weeks ago.

   The Palestinian Cultural Fair held at Grace Church Van Vorst was hosted by a coalition of relief organizations and student groups including New Jersey Peace Action, Ceasefire Now NJ, HCCC for Palestine, and others, with all proceeds going to Heal Palestine and PCRF.

   There were cultural talks, musical performances, embroidery demonstrations, art pop-ups, and an assortment of vendors. The line for a taste of Palestinian food was so serious a second entrance had to be opened.

Pavonia/Newport 01/17/25 – The world’s highest rated flexible workspace provider has partnered with Coldwell Banker Richard Ellis (CBRE), the world's largest commercial real estate services and investment firm.

    In a Tuesday e-blast, Industrious founder Jamie Hodari expressed exuberance at the acquisition deal which will supercharge the coworking company’s reach and resources, as well as give CBRE a tremendous advantage in the workspace outsourcing market just as demand is growing and many more employees are returning to the office.

    Mr. Hodari will also be taking a lead role in CBRE’s building operating businesses (7B SF; $20B annual revenue; 95,000 employees). The acquisition deal consists of a 100% stake investment by CBRE, raising Industrious’s valuation to $800 million.

    The Jersey City Industrious location in Newport Tower (pictured) is just one of more than 160 outposts in over 65 global markets. In the commercial real estate industry, Industrious is recognized by leaders and observers for its ledger-easy model based on revenue partnership agreements with building owners, as opposed to traditional leases.

Downtown 01/15/25 – After the devastation of the COVID pandemic and months of repair construction on a sky roof severely damaged by torrential weeklong storms in early 2024, District Lounge quietly reopened its doors late last summer.

    Entering into the new year, the management team at parent company District Kitchen, the ambitious food hall centered in Harborside Financial Center’s main indoor plaza, has pulled out all the stops to redesign and reinvigorate the public dining and drinking space. Large abstract murals by artist Dena Perl hang in the main corridor and innovative lighting designs are implemented throughout 4,500+ sq ft venue, which can also be hired for private events.

    The Lounge has successfully recruited fiercely independent Chef Cedric Gayon, formerly of the Michelin-starred eateries Restaurant Guy Savoy in Las Vegas and Eleven Madison Park in New York, and founder of the adventurous Five Tastes pop-up chef collective, to present new and creative menus for lunch and dinner.

    Signature cocktails with names like Smokey Mirage (400 Conejos mezcal, prickly pear, lime juice, worm salt rim) and The Jersey City Girl (prosecco, Aperol, club soda, orange slice) are available alongside an impressive spirits roster, particularly the whiskey and tequila lists, and distinctive wines.

    Lunch offerings range from house salads to Truffle Mushroom Risotto, the Double District Burger, and Caviar Lobster Roll, among others. Dinners can include a raw bar with dressed oysters, caviar toast, and market fish crudo. Small dinner plates of potato croquettes or Korean fried chicken are options to the large plates of Spicy Rigatoni, Faroe Island Salmon, or high-end steaks, to name a few.

    Next door in the food hall proper, Nana’s Deli recently joined the ranks of local favorites such as Angry Archie’s, The Belgian Plate, Carlito’s Barbecue Taqueria, and Enfes Mediterranean, to form a wide assortment of culinary choices at any time of the day.

    At lunchtime in the atrium, mellow moods are played by solo instrumentalists before a backdrop of brilliantly colorful psychedelic swirling visuals projected onto three towering columns. At happy hour, one can enjoy truly breath-taking views of Manhattan at dusk. Currently, the lounge stays open until about 10pm on weeknights and Saturdays, but a senior manager has informed Jersey City Live Wire that hours are being regularly expanded as the clientele grows. All indications are that this district may not remain a well-kept secret for very long and that things will heat up long before warm weather returns.

Their website:  District Lounge | Lounge in Jersey City, NJ