I've written in these pages before that Jersey City is a beautiful place to walk around and explore, and one of the things I enjoy is the combination of art and architecture and the lovely and interesting places and spaces I stumble upon when I'm walking from one neighborhood to another. There are sweet old parks and vibrant murals, cobblestones and stone walls, old brownstones and new high-rises and loft buildings created from warehouses. Different neighborhoods have their own special feeling, and as I walk down different streets I can almost feel the change in energy as I go from one side of a park to another and enter into another section of the city.
One day a few years ago I was meeting with the Artist John Fathom for a potential project, and afterward he suggested we go somewhere to sit and talk. He walked me a few blocks over from where we were to the Hamilton Inn, and we sat outside on that warm summer day and enjoyed a quiet late afternoon conversation. I had been wanting to return again since then, and recently when I was planning to have lunch with someone I decided to go there. The days are much colder now and so we sat inside, and with the holiday lights still glittering around the doors and windows it was lovely and cozy and festive.
The food, the service and the menu are excellent, as is the wine selection, and the mixology is definitely inviting and well crafted. It was hard to decide what to have because there were so many wonderful things on the menu. One of my favorite things is a Reuben, and when I saw their version uses corned beef that is smoked at Hamilton Pork next door I decided that was what my choice would be and it was a winner. I'm sure everything would be because that's the kind of place it is. It was lovely that afternoon and it made me wonder what it was like at other times of the day and the week and want to visit often.
Nearby is Hamilton Park and some other parts of Jersey City like Grove Street and Newport are an easy few minutes walk in different directions. If you're up for exploring you can take some time to look at murals on the way or just enjoy the lovely old buildings, trees and sky. As you walk through the Park you can enjoy the view of the gazebo, and as you continue on your journey you might just feel like you've gone a little bit back in time to remember the history of the place and the people who have lived there before. When food is fresh and made with care and the environment has a feeling of giving space and light, we can feel as if it's not just today we are enjoying but bringing the past to meet the present and make memories that will enrich our tomorrows.
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