5 things i love about hoboken right now

1. eli's cappuccinos and mochas... a perfect mix of steamed milk, espresso and chocolate. plus a pretty design. add a pain au chocolat for good measure (eli's creation above right). stay by the espresso bar, listen to eli craft a poem or talk to other hoboken folks that don't follow the usual 9 to 5 grind... find him at emack and bolio's at 517 washington street.

2. street art (above left) that reminds us of vanishing hoboken. condos are everywhere. old, family run businesses are losing ground. banks, nail salons and starbucks chains now inhabit the sturdy buildings of classical & traditional architectural beauties. see vanishing hoboken at right, on first street.

3. hoboken has a crepe restaurant! the crepe grill, located at 525 frank sinatra drive, recently opened right by the hudson river with a spectacular city view. we enjoyed both an entree crepe (offerings are both meat and veggie) and a dessert one (nutella of course). pick from the many choices and enjoy the view while you munch. the crepes we chose were tasty, the crepe just slightly crunchy, warm and soft enough. a healthy serving of nutella, not skimping on flavor.

4. woman-owned businesses like patricia's yarns. i stopped to meet patricia and fellow knitter, margaux (tentenknits) when a stunning green sweater in the store window (see photo) kept catching my eye every time i passed by. patricia launched her store 3 years ago to teach knitting and crocheting (see class schedule here). the store, located just off washington street, at 107 4th street, has yarn supplies (a range of lovely colors and products from around the world) and a cozy space for classes.

5. the little grocery is where you can get hoboken's best egg sandwich, artisanal cheese, balthazar bakery croissants and freshly prepared meals that rival mom's home cooking. stroll over to 214 jefferson street for a moveable feast.