If you have been down to Harborside recently you have surely noticed the extensive renovations underway, such as the Pedestrian Plaza being installed at 210 Harborside. Another big change is the arrival of the Smorgasburg Food Market. It will take place at 195 Hudson St. each Saturday from late May to October, from 11am to 6pm.

Rounding out the full spectrum of gift options are a good range of greeting cards and very fancy popcorns, fine teas, and snacks. Whether you are treating yourself or someone as equally special, Washington General Store has got you. Such a sweet store - run by nicest people, to boot.

Upon opening in 2018, their custom cakes, cookies, cake pops and desserts in a jar made Sugarsuckle the go-to bakery among event planners looking for exquisitely tasteful desserts that provide visual wow along with tasting great. That distinction really set them apart as there are many high-concept desserts that look dazzling but taste average at best.

Hoboken’s Prime Cycle is yet another local business that has really hustled to keep it moving during the pandemic. Thanks to Prime Cycle for keeping class in action and for all the hard work and community acts of kindness over the past year.

Independent bookstores are not a thing of the past in Hudson County, for which we are eternally grateful. Jersey City has WORD, Bayonne has The Little Boho Bookshop, and Hoboken has Little City Books.

Two jewelry collections are featured in the Hoboken shop. One is a lovely range from the Calliope Sisters – two local Hoboken girls who produced the range with the help of their mom. The other brand is Swahili Coast, a beautiful collection of beaded bracelets and necklaces made from Swahilian women.

Jersey City mourned when we lost Eileen Markenstein this past August. Widely respected for her tireless work as the President of the Historic Jersey City and Harsimus Cemetery, she was beloved and admired by many for her strength, resolve, intelligence, kindness, and wit.

Yoga. Meditation. Mindfulness. These well-worn ways to wellness have certainly been more useful than ever in the past 12 months. But, like us, have you had a recent moment where what you really wanted to do was hurl an axe into the air? Well, you can. Welcome to the world of Jersey City’s Tomahawks.

The OTT motivational speeches from Cycling class instructors are now common comedic fodder – look to the SNL satires of SoulCycle as hilarious proof. But satire is based in truth, right? We all need that extra dose of motivation these days, and the instructors at Cycle Bar’s Jersey City outpost deliver.

The Barre method is a low-impact, high-intensity workout designed to tone and lift our muscles while improving flexibility and strength. So how does it work? Pure Barre’s technique involves small, controlled movements that isolate and target specific muscle groups.

Salvation also has a lovely range of candles, soaps, lotions, and oils for purchase, along with their super-popular CBD salves and tinctures. Nice to note: Salvation donates a portion of all purchases to their Community Wellness Program, which focuses on women’s health care in under-served and under-represented communities.

Broa Café, Michael Casalinho’s beloved Portuguese restaurant on Grove Street, is in the process of moving into a bigger location a few doors down – great news for the many devoted fans of his authentic Portuguese food.

In 2010, medical marijuana became legal in the State of New Jersey. Ten years later, voters said yes to recreational adult use, too. While plans to implement recreational sales are underway, there are currently many avenues here to purchase CBD products.

We of TMG are huge fans of Turkish cuisine. As such we are delighted that Efes Mediterranean Grill is now here in Jersey City. Their new outpost at 515 Jersey Ave. follows on the heels of their perennially popular spots in Princeton and New Brunswick.

One of the greatest joys of shopping local is encountering entrepreneurs who zero in on their passion – be it a service or product – and then joyfully and quite often perfectly execute their passion project.