Tag Archives: polls

Arts District, Downtown, Rahway, UCPAC

New and improved arts center? No thanks.

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A $6-million overhaul and expansion apparently won’t be enough to draw Rahway Rising readers to the Union County Performing Arts Center. If our recent poll is any indication, half of readers likely won’t be checking it out, only a quarter of them will “probably” go, and a scant handful are definites to be there.

Are you more likely to go to the Union County Performing Arts Center since it expanded?
Doubt it. Neil Sedaka and Engelbert Humperdinck just don’t do it for me. 50 percent (37/73)
Probably. The new productions look interesting. 26 percent (19/73)
Nah. I don’t have any interest. 17 percent (13/73)
Definitely. Can’t get enough of that Connie Francis. 5 percent (4/73)

The 73 votes cast in the poll easily beat the previous high of 58 votes in a poll about feeling safe downtown.

Readers weighed in on what kind of programming they’d like to see at the arts center in a previous poll in January. Comedy and concerts were the leaders in that poll, followed by plays, but there were only 25 votes cast back then. Of course, any of the RR polls are completely unscientific.

Like most arts centers, UCPAC is considered a draw for downtown and the expansion – which included the $1.3-million sale to the county – was an effort to try to boost that, making it an integral part of redevelopment efforts, along with the other arts district initiatives.

I get the impression from some that the programming just isn’t what they’re looking for. As one reader put it: there’s too much programming aimed at the “blue hair” demographic. Are readers going elsewhere for the arts? Do you prefer other places in the area, like NJPAC, Paper Mill, State Theatre or Count Basie? Is there too much competition? Maybe readers just aren’t the artsy types? As Coffee Talk’s Linda Richman would say: Discuss.

As we approach the six-month mark of the blog, check out the latest poll and let us know how we’re doing.

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RR readers love their parks

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Readers spoke loud and clear in the latest poll. With almost three-quarters of the 57 votes solidly getting behind one choice, it’s probably the highest percentage in any of the recent polls. It wasn’t even close from the start. The total number of votes also fell just short of our highest yet (58), some two polls ago.

The question was sparked by plans for a park along Essex Street, near the Riverwalk development.

“How important is green/open space in your vision of downtown Rahway?”
Fewer condos, more parks — 14 percent, (8/57)
We don’t need Central Park but balance development with open space — 73 percent, (42/57)
If it doesn’t pay taxes, don’t bother — 12 percent, (7/57)

I’m always open to suggestions for upcoming polls so feel free to email or comment. Check out the new poll, at right.

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The city’s Web site has a map of the traffic changes planned for downtown this spring. Last I heard, the changes were aiming for around the same time as the Irving-Fulton realignment, which was ahead of schedule for April 1 (Tuesday).

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Rahway on film

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On the occasion of a movie filming in Rahway last month, our latest poll question had nothing to do with redevelopment, but it was fun nonetheless. Is it just me, or wouldn’t it be a lot of fun to have a “Rahway Film Festival” of sorts with the Union County Arts Center featuring a bunch of these movies one weekend (even if Rahway’s scenes are only a few seconds long in some)?

“What’s your favorite movie that was filmed in Rahway?”
The School of Rock (2003), 40 percent (18/44)
Rounders (1998), 38 percent (17/44)
City Hall (1996), 9 percent (4/44)
Something Wild (1986), 9 percent (4/44)
Other, 2 percent (1/44)

“School of Rock” and “Rounders” jumped out to a monster lead early and never looked back, with “Rock” edging out the win among RR readers. Interestingly, or not, the 44 votes is the same number as the poll before last, though fewer than the 58 votes cast in the most recent one.

“The School of Rock” is probably the most prominent of those listed, with major scenes filmed in and around the Union County Arts Center, including the finale of the “Battle of the Bands.” It’s the biggest hit of those in the poll, raking in $81 million while costing $35 million to make, according to The International Movie Database (IMDB).

“Rounders” (costing an estimated $12 million and grossing $23 million) was Matt Damon’s next movie after his Oscar-winner, “Good Will Hunting,” along with “Saving Private Ryan.” It also starred a pre-“Fight Club” and “American History X” Ed Norton. IMDB doesn’t list Rahway as a location, but from what I’m told, the gambling scenes were in fact filmed at the Elks Lodge on West Milton Avenue.

“City Hall” is the weakest of the bunch when it comes to netting a profit at the box office — costing $40 million but barely grossing $20 million — starring big names in Al Pacino and John Cusack, and a big name at the time, Bridget Fonda. Rahway also isn’t included on the filming locations for “City Hall,” according to IMDB, but more than a few people I’ve spoken to recall a scene filmed at Lehrer-Gibilisco Funeral Home on West Milton (just down the street from the Elks Lodge). The filmmakers repainted the entire funeral home and made some cosmetic changes.

We didn’t include in the poll movies (“Malcolm X,” “He Got Game“) that IMDB listed as being filmed in Rahway but probably were filmed at East Jersey State Prison (formerly Rahway State) because it’s in Woodbridge, although it has a Rahway mailing address. But it wouldn’t surprise me if “Something Wild,” which grossed $8 million, should be included in that group now. Thinking back, I recall Ray Liotta’s character is released from prison, and I’d bet it’s East Jersey State.

For those interested, “The Wrestler” will be filming in Dover this week, according to the Daily Record. Something else I came across since the first post: Nicolas Cage had originally been tapped to star, at least according to this report. Also, IMDB has a lot more information about the cast, which includes one of the software engineers we haven’t seen since “Office Space.”

Thanks for indulging in some non-redevelopment blog posts. We’ll get back to some redevelopment-related items this week. And also thanks to the readers who have emailed comments the past few weeks.

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Downtown

Rahway welcomes Hollywood

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In the spirit of tonight’s 80th annual Oscars, as well as Rahway’s own Hollywood presence last week, we present our new poll question, below right. Be sure to cast your vote, and add your two cents in the comments section.

Continue reading Rahway welcomes Hollywood →

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You say tomato, I say Thai

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After jumping out to an early 9-1 lead in the early days of the latest poll, Thai held off Japanese to be the choice of Rahway Rising readers:

“What type of restaurant would you like to see downtown?”
Thai 38 percent (17/44)
Japanese 27 percent (12/44)
Indian 15 percent (7/44)
American 9 percent (4/44)
Chinese 4 percent (2/44)
None; plenty as it is, 2 percent (1/44)
Other 2 percent (1/44)
French 0 percent (0/44)

The poll results were record setting, smashing RR’s previous high of 30 votes — a 46-percent increase! (Of course, there’s no way to know if someone just ran around voting from different computers, but we’re on the honors system here!)

The choices in the poll leaned Asian as I tried to avoid offering choices that are already in the area (Portuguese, Mexican, Irish, etc.). Not sure if there’s a Thai, Japanese or Indian place on the way, but the four readers who favored American might be in luck. And to those two who favored Chinese, there’s still hope.

2008 could be the year of the restaurant in Rahway. On top of Cubanu and Luciano’s, another new addition could join the scene. Developers of Carriage City Plaza are in “serious talks with a steakhouse operater that is a New Jersey institution,” according to a representative of Elizabeth-based Silcon Group. “New Jersey institution” — any guesses? My first thought was Tiffany’s, but that’s more known for ribs, no? Another reader suggested Arthur’s, which has three New Jersey locations, none very close to Rahway.

UPDATE: You’ll have to come up with some new guesses. According to a representative of Silcon, they were approached by Tiffany’s and “rejected the concept as not being upscale enough.” Same goes for Arthur’s, though “we never talked to them.”

A 6,000-square-foot steakhouse (more along the lines of a Lone Star) also is planned to accompany a new 72-unit Sleep Inn to be built near the Best Western at East Milton Avenue and Routes 1&9. That project was re-approved by the Planning Board last month after several years of being tied up at the state for waterfront development permits, among other things.

Speaking of the hotel, Silcon is in the final stages of negotiations with a fitness center/spa that will open along with the Hotel Indigo in June. Other potential retail tenants might include a bank, dry cleaner and “several coffee house concepts,” among others. Homeowners are expected to be moving in some time in May. More than 100 of the 209 condos at Sky View have been sold, the representative said, and expect “to be sold out very soon.”

P.S. In case you’re interested, here are Rahway’s presidential primary results from Tuesday night.

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Arts District, Downtown, Polls, Rahway, UCPAC

Concerts and comedy

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For the second straight time, our poll ended in a tie, with two options garnering a strong majority of the votes.

“What would you like to see at the Union County Performing Arts Center?”

Concerts, 36 percent (9/25)
Standup comedy, 36 percent (9/25)
Plays/musicals, 16 percent (4/25)
Movies, 8 percent (2/25)
Other, 4 percent (1/25)

The last poll also finished in a tie, and there was no word on what that “Other” vote might have been. Feel free to use the comments section to fill us in.

It was interesting that “standup comedy” finished first considering the plans to create a black box theater and performing arts space down the street, that’s always been talked about for a comedy club. The question also remains, what kind of concernts might people want to attend? There’s been no shortage of Paul Anka or Dar Williams at the arts center over the years; is that filling a need, or are people looking for something else? Interesting that plays/musicals only garnered four votes, as the center’s expansion included making more space for larger productions (as well as adding air conditioning for year-round use). Personally, I love when old-school movies that you’d never see on the big screen anywhere else, like Easy Rider or Citizen Kane, are screened at the UCAC.

The arts center likely will reopen next month following a year-long, $6-million expansion by the county. The 1928 facility will have an “updated” name, adding “performing” to its moniker. Check out the new poll question to the right, as well as the new option to subscribe to the blog via email.

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Pizza, Polls

Pizza Pizza

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It was a photo finish in this week’s Rahway Rising poll! “Who has the best pizza in Rahway?” yielded yet another new record for most votes cast with 30, up from 26 in the last poll.

Since it’s not a scientific poll of any kind, this is again assuming no one sat up at night (or got up early for that matter) manipulating it.

While there was no clear majority for any one establishment, some final-day votes pushed two places over the 50-percent mark combined.

Michelino’s, 27 percent (8/30)
Nancy’s Townhouse, 27 percent (8/30)
Other, 23 percent (7/30)
Adam’s, 7 percent (2/30)
Gino’s, 7 percent (2/30)
Ted’s, 7 percent (2/30)
Tony’s, 3 percent (1/30)

It was clear at least two pizzerias were ahead of the pack. Unfortunately, it’s anyone’s guess whether those seven Other votes were for one pizzeria or multiple pizzerias, as I haven’t figured out how to allow write-in votes in the poll, and no one took me up on my suggestion to post their Others in the comments section of blog entries. Regardless, it was another exciting poll for us here at RR, leaving us to wonder whether we should have included even more pizzerias in the poll, i.e., Rahway Pizza, Papa Vito. Perhaps we’ll have a runoff election later in the year, a virtual grudge match to decide once and for all.

Check out the new poll about the Union County Performing Arts Center, which will be reopening next month after a $6-million expansion. As always, RR is open to suggestions for any future poll questions.

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Commercial, Downtown, Polls, restaurants, Retail

Downtown Options, Part Two

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With my coffee shop rant out of the way, welcome to Part II on the most recent poll results, which had grocery/specialty food store garnering 44 percent of the vote, ahead of brewpub/bar/restaurant, 32 percent, and coffeehouse/bagel shop, 20 percent.

Continue reading Downtown Options, Part Two →