A B O U T . H O B O K E N

Hoboken is a small factory town filled with artists, musicians and bohemians on the west bank of the Hudson River across from midtown Manhattan. Musicians and artists came here in the 70's and 80's looking for loft buildings and brownstones. This sparked Hoboken's rebirth into a tree-lined neighborhood of clubs, restaurants, cafes and artist studios. Today much of Hoboken's population is young people who work in New York and hang out in the clubs.

In addition to its Greenwich Village appeal, Hoboken has a subway that shuttles back and forth to midtown and downtown Manhattan 24 hours a day. The PATH train is fast, very safe, clean, well lighted and $1.75. It's so great that many record company people live in Hoboken and enjoy quick access to Manhattan clubs. Hoboken is only one square mile, so everything is within walking distance. Cabs are a fixed $5 and you won't need a rental car.

MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC

Hoboken is the home of Maxwell's, voted perennially as the best club in New York even though it isn't in New York. This legendary club is one of the greatest places to see a band. It is a mandatory stop on any club tour. Opened by Steve Fallon in 1978 and booked for more than a decade by the infallible Todd Abramson, no musician ever asks where they should go for a beer in Hoboken.

Rated #1 in entertainment in the state, Hoboken has been called the "Datona Beach of New Jersey" because of its thriving restaurant and club scene. It is also listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most bars per square mile, an honor dating back to its role as point of troop embarkation for World War I. This led to the expression, "Heaven, Hell or Hoboken."

Hoboken's astonishing resurgence has had its detractors. Derogatory nicknames include, "17th Grade" (referring to the number of young people moving here after college) and the "Gene Pool" (a nod to the fact that 60% of Hoboken is single). In the words of an elderly woman testifying before the City Council, "I moved here to retire in a quiet place. Now I live at the crossroads of hell."

Those seeking a good night's sleep, have no fear. The studio is not located in the restaurant district, although there is a trendy bar down the block out of earshot.

A few blocks away is one of the most diverse cityscapes in the world. Whether it be museums, music, film, restaurants, ethnic fairs, meetings or just sightseeing, it is always worth the trip.