A gourmet market with decidedly non-gourmet prices, Oliva stocks both everyday staples and specialty items from across the Globe. Like many of our neighbors, we have been highly anticipating Oliva’s launch as it fills a real niche downtown, and it does not disappoint!

Spa lovers, rejoice, Gaia’s Cavern has recently opened! Gaia’s skilled practitioners offer a range of customized facials, massages, foot baths (!), Reiki therapy, and waxing. Yes, even waxing is pleasurable at Gaia’s Cavern.

Rachel Sieg, in our humble estimation, is the ultimate queen of getting it done. The Princeton, NJ native and current Hilltop resident is the Executive Director of the Historic Downtown Special Improvement District (HDSID).
In her 8 years on the job, Rachel has been at the helm of the sweeping revitalization of the Newark Ave. shopping district, along with developing Groove on Grove, the Grove Street Farmers Market, and the Annual All About Downtown Street Fair. 

Rumba Cubana has opened this month, bringing a little touch of Havana to Hamilton Park. The Cuban music sets a festive tone that, upon entering, makes you immediately clamor for a cocktail and a fun-filled meal.

The bakery blitz continues in downtown Jersey City, with Enna recently opening at 61 Erie St, in the space that formerly housed Prato. Authenticity reigns in this serene spot, with its Tuscan-inspired décor of raw wood, terracotta and a warm, neutral palette, and a menu that lets you sample flavors from across Sicily’s highly localized culinary landscape.

The past few years saw major changes to the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood, with the opening of Berry Lane Park, new residential development, and Liberty Science Center’s massive SciTech Scity Project all pointing to a cultural renaissance in the area.

Situated at the intersection of Coles and Second St., this spacious, breezy café opened in mid-July and is quickly building a loyal clientele. Housed in the spot of a former bodega, the café is the creation of Anne Dufour, who was one of the owners of French Café Gourmand, which was located in NYC’s Financial District and is now closed.

Ah, August in Jersey City. Oppressive heat aside, it’s the most wonderful time of the year – for lovers of zeppole, rice balls, and wine with peaches, that is.

National Night Out, “America’s Night Out Against Crime”, began in 1984 as an effort to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie and to send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

Now in its 42nd year, is the longest running one of its kind in New Jersey. Held on Tuesday and Sunday evenings in two brand new locations within the park, the concerts offer something for all ages, featuring rock, jazz, R&B, folk, Latin, alt-country rock, and NJCU's Alumni singers.