Two of our 2022 resolutions: Continue to support small JC businesses and be open to incorporating small-scale new practices to stay centered and reduce stress. We are going to start with a January visit to Iggi Olorun Metaphysical Botanica, a very special little shop on Barrow St. with a long history here in Jersey City.

Send along a skin salve to fight the trials of winter weather with a gift certificate to Walker’s Apothecary. Shalea Walker is a renowned esthetician and makeup artist with over a decade of experience in the fields of beauty and skincare, tending to the skin of celebrities and regular folks alike looking to optimize our skincare routine.

Madame Claude Wine is the ideal place when gifting wine, beautifully wrapped by the knowledgeable staff who will expertly guide you through their selection of wine from around the world. They also have a delightful selection of French delicacies and glassware, all of which they will package into a stunning gift basket.

Marinell Montales and John T. Trigonis are a low-key creative power couple in Jersey City, so it is no surprise that their latest venture, Sure Things, is so special. Situated in a storefront in the Heights that was formerly a hair salon, the space has been meticulously restored to house their collection of fintage (found and vintage) items for sale.

Jersey City does not lack for representation when it comes to coffee culture – great cafes abound in every neighborhood. So, it says a lot that there was so much anticipation for the newly opened Rabble and Lion coffee shop in the Village.

Café Dolma is a true gem. It is tiny and beyond charming – the standalone building on Grand Street transports you to a European-style feel where people actually take time during the day to linger over amazing food and great coffee.

There are two new Asian eateries on Washington Boulevard in Newport. Menya Sendaime is a Jersey-based Japanese Ramen chain with 5 locations in total including Old Bridge, Paramus and 2 restaurants in Fort Lee. Chef Tan serves Hunan-, Szechuan- and American-style Chinese specialties.

It’s official! Coles St. Park is now open to the public. This follows the very recent ribbon cutting ceremony with the Mayor, Council and City officials, community members and Manhattan Building Company, the local developers who funded the construction of this $2.5 million project. Located on Coles St. near the Hoboken border, the Park’s 1.5 acres extend from 16th to 18th Streets.

The Power Plant Café by BoyceMode is now up and running at 60 Columbus Ave., at the ground floor of Club Base Gym. The all-vegan offerings of smoothies, juices and to-go meals are designed to fuel your body and mind with a balanced offering of nutrients that also taste flat-out delicious. As some of you might concur, it’s not so easy to make a vegan macaroni salad that tempts all.

We wrote awhile back about Tia Planta – the fabulous plant store/kiosk in McGinley Sq. that is owned and operated by JC’s very own Plant Aunt, Shayla Cabrera. As her business continues to boom, other local women are following her lead, either by cultivating their own gardens or branching out with their own business.

Have you had a chance to check out Belle Ame Café? Opened since July, the Café is situated on a quiet residential block (76 Cottage St., to be exact) and is a mere four-minute walk to the JSQ Path Station. The proximity makes it an ideal morning stop for folks back in the commuting grind and in need of a great coffee and/or breakfast sandwich to get going.

Yet another superb juicery/vegan eatery is open in our midst. The latest is VegBar, located in Hoboken at 464 Newark Ave., close to the JC border and the Hoboken Fire Station. While the first VegBar in Newark is vegetarian and mostly vegan, the Hoboken locale is all vegan all day.

Have you checked out the beautiful, dried flower arrangements at Hoboken’s Mela Fleur? If we correctly suspect a bit of pause on your end, trust us. These are not your grandmother’s dried flower arrangements. Unlike traditional aged flowers that dry to a brittle and discolored finish, preserved flowers are cut at the peak of health and then soaked for a time in silica.

Café Lafayette recently opened on a sunny corner of Maple and Monitor Streets in Bergen-Lafayette, serving up coffee, breakfast and lunch seven days a week. The menu centers around coffee drinks, smoothies, pastries, breakfast and lunch sandwiches and excellent authentic Korean food.

Attention, fans of Hidden Grounds Coffee (and those who love great coffee in general) – their second location in Jersey City is now up and running. It’s located in a sunny spot at 276 1st St., seconds from the Newark Ave. Pedestrian Plaza and minutes away from the original one at 148 1st St.