The newest addition to Downtown Jersey City’s cafe scene, Steam Cafe, has been opened for a few weeks now on Newark Avenue between Monmouth and 3rd Streets. While many new food businesses have had trouble on that particular stretch over the past few years (the corner spot most recently home to Rue Viet has, for example, seen several establishments come and go), Steam owner Christina Coaker (at right) is hoping to thrive in her new venture by connecting with Jersey City’s arts community and neighborhood customers.

“We are branding ourselves as an ‘Art Gallery Cafe,’ we are upfront and personal, and we [strive] to be connected to every one of our customers,” she says. “We have a personal curator and artist Mark Finne who arranges our bi-monthly art shows.”

The cafe, which seats about 15, will host an official ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Jerramiah Healy this weekend. Coaker, a Harlem native who has lived in Jersey City for eight years, is also being realistic about the profitability of her new venture. Unlike some small business owners, she’s decided to not ditch her full-time job at the beginning of her new venture, which should allow her business to grow at a more traditional pace without the constant worry that it has to put food on her plate and a roof over her head.

“I decided to open a cafe a few years back when I realized how important it was for me to be a driving force in my happiness,” Coaker says. “For me, that meant creating my own space and not sitting behind a desk because I had to. I love meeting new people and I love espresso, tea and coffee, art and music.”

“I still work my day job in corporate America, while my baristas keep my dream alive,” she continues. “Steam is like my alter-ego … through the cafe I can talk shop, have art, and drink espresso be part of the world in a way that I can actually see the effects of my dreams come to life.”

The cafe features TM Ward coffee, homemade muffins and pressed sandwiches, and plenty of local items as well. Steam carries natural sodas from Fizzy Lizzy, baked goods from Sassy Sweet Treats and breads delivered daily from neighboring Pecoraro Bakery. There’s free wifi, and current hours are Monday from 6:30 am to 1 pm; Tuesday through Saturday from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm; and Sunday from 8 am to 6 pm.

Coaker is also turning Saturday’s ribbon-cutting into more than a photo-op for local politicians. The event features children’s face painting with Arts in Action’s Laura Dejean from 12:30 to 2:30 pm, with the mayor’s official ribbon-cutting ceremony at 3 pm, and performances from 4 to 6 pm.

THE DETAILS

Steam Cafe | 274 Newark Avenue | 201.706.2489 | Steam on Facebook | Steam on Twitter

Morrill just told JCI that the city has secured 200 boxed meals from the Jersey City Medical Center and some food from Pizza Masters in the Heights, and is “working with another vendor” to secure a few hundred more. About 200 people have fled to the shelters thus far.

Still, the city is urging residents who have yet to evacuate to a shelter to bring their own food if at all possible, just to be safe.

This weekend my husband and I took a trip out to the Sussex County Fair. If you’ve never been to a county fair, specifically an agricultural fair, you are really missing out. (Seriously, stop what you are doing and go visit one RIGHT NOW.) These multi-day events feature things like barrel racing, fluffy bunnies, insanely huge produce (see below), local crafts and baked goods, and usually some kind of freak show. (Last year there was “The Serpent Woman” — a woman with an uncanny resemblance to Lunch Lady Doris, with her head sticking up through a hole in a folding table, next to a snake stuffed animal.)

Super Zuke. That peanut is for scale, BTW.

All of these are housed in different tents at the fair grounds. We spent the morning visiting the animals, then dined on a delicious lunch of fried things. (No deep fried butter…this time.) Next, we checked out the greenhouse for the flower and vegetable judging.

While perusing the vegetables, a thought occurred to me: what would a Hudson County Fair look like? I mentioned this to my husband, who snorted some remark about a “best disguise of a bribe in a tea cozy” contest.

Which would be awesome.

But really, think about it. How many of your neighbors will be foisting their excess tomatoes on you in the next couple of weeks? How many stoops house little pots of chives and basil? Jersey Citizens actually grow an incredible variety and amount of food. So, this week I took a walk around town to see some of the local bounty.

Lovely, happy squashes.

A peck of (maybe, eventually) pickled peppers.

The Brunswick Community Garden’s baby figs. Or as I like to call them, “figlets”.

My ultimate garden crush on 6th Street. This person has a whole farm on his/her stoop. Tomatoes, peppers, herbs…swoon.

Across the street, the same person (I think) growing corn, people!

These photos are just the tip of the iceberg. People are farming all over the place. I am especially inspired by the 6th Street gardener because this garden is the picture of resourcefulness, and just taking what you’ve got and making it work, which is really what you need to do with urban farming. With beautiful results.

What’s the most unexpected food item you’ve seen growing in our city?

Happy growing,

Emily

Do you have a gardening question/comment/angry rant you’d like to share with Emily? Post it in the comments!

- Mortgage Fraud: A 33-year-old Jersey City man has pleaded guilty in federal court to participating in a $40.8 million mortgage-fraud scheme involving at least four New Jersey men.

- Guilty Plea in ’09 Killing: A 26-year-old Jersey City man pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to conspiring to kill a rival gang member in April 2009, and to illegally possessing firearms.

Today’s Best Bets:

- The weather has finally cleared up, just in time for some free outdoor events tonight. There’s a free concert featuring M. Josephine, Nick Ciavatta & the Sea of Otters and Dujuana Sharese with Spacious Curtis at Groove on Grove (6 pm), and a free screening of Toy Story 3 in Van Vorst Park (8 pm). Also not to be missed is the opening of the newest show by Jersey City painter Robert Piersanti, POPulation, at Club H (6:30 pm).

In Statewide News:

- Rutgers & Sports: In an environment of fiscal strain confronting state governments, Rutgers University is emblematic of rising tension over funding of athletics at the expense of academics.

- State Police & Minority Recruits: Lawyers for the NAACP will meet with Attorney General Paula Dow and State Police Supt. Rick Fuentes next week to discuss why just five black applicants were selected for the new 123-member trooper recruit class that began Monday.

- NJ & Kids: New Jersey remains one of the best states in the nation to raise and educate children, according to the latest Kids Count survey to be released today.

- Energy Master Plan: With the Christie administration yet to end hearings on a draft Energy Master Plan, Democratic lawmakers already are threatening to reverse a decision to scale back New Jersey’s renewable energy goals.

- Carl Lewis: Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno has refused to certify former Olympic track and field star Carl Lewis as a candidate for state Senate.

- Supermarkets Bill: A group of proposed laws designed to ease the path for supermarkets to open in New Jersey is being touted by the New Jersey Food Council as a way to bring quality foods to residents who currently are unable to get them.

The Journal Square market will include a number of local farmers bringing Jersey Fresh and organic fruits and vegetables to Jersey City, as well as other gourmet treats like meat, eggs, cheeses, nuts, pickles, frozen Italian foods and baked goods.

For a full schedule of all of Jersey City’s farmers markets, as well as a guide to when local fruits and vegetables are in season, click here.

With the addition of the Newport Centre Farmers Market, Jersey City will now have markets on five days of the week, with the remaining three days to be filled out later this month with the Riverview and Journal Square markets open. (For a full listing of all the markets, as well as what Jersey Fresh produce is in season when, click here.)

The market is inside the mall, in the Center Court area, and it runs each Tuesday from noon to 7 pm, through October 31.

“This is a unique opportunity to shop at the mall for the regular array of great merchandise found there and stop on the way out to purchase freshly harvested produce, delicious baked goods and much more,” Newport Centre director of marketing and business development Jill Daniel says in a statement.

Both the Van Vorst Park Farmers Market and the Paulus Hook Farmers Market will open for the season this Saturday; they will be followed by the Hamilton Park Farmers Market later in May and the Grove Street Farmers Market in early June. We’re also told that there will be at least one new farmers market in the mix this year, in the Heights’ Riverview-Fisk Park. The Riverview Neighborhood Association says it will begin in June and most likely run on Sundays; we’ll update you when those details is finalized.

Here’s the list of Jersey City’s markets, arranged by confirmed start date. We are waiting on word from the organizers of the other markets; we’ll let you know and update this list as we hear back. (LAST UPDATED MAY 22 TO ADD THE NEWPORT MALL AND RIVERVIEW MARKETS.)

Van Vorst Park Farmers Market: Opens Saturday, May 7 and runs each Saturday from 8 am – 2 pm until November (at Van Vorst Park by the gazebo).

Paulus Hook Farmers Market: Opens Saturday, May 7 and runs each Saturday from 11 am – 4 pm until late fall (at Washington Street south of Dudley Street).

Hamilton Park Farmers Market: Opens Wednesday, May 18 and runs each Wednesday from 4 – 8 pm until, weather permitting, December (at Hamilton Park by the gazebo).

Grove Street Farmers Market: Opens Thursday, June 2 and runs each Monday and Thursday from 4 – 8 pm until late December, with the exception of Labor Day and Thanksgiving Day (at Grove Street PATH plaza).

Newport Mall Farmers Market: Opens Tuesday, June 7 and runs each Tuesday from 12 – 7 pm through October 31. (This market will be located in the center court area of the first floor of the mall.)

Riverview Farmers Market: Opens Sunday, June 12 and runs each Sunday from 9 am – 3 pm through the end of September (at Riverview-Fisk Park).

Journal Square Farmers Market: Opens Wednesday, June 22 and runs each Wednesday and Friday from 10 am – 7:30 pm until November 23 (at the Journal Square plaza).

And if you’re wondering what kind of fresh stuff will likely be available when, the state Department of Agriculture has put together a handy “Harvest Dates Availability Chart,” which includes the early and late target harvest dates of a variety of fruits and vegetables, as well as their peak harvest dates, which is what we’ve included below.

FRUITS & BERRIES:

• Apples: September 1 – October 25
• Blackberries: July 15 – July 30
• Blueberries: July 5 – August 10
• Cherries: June 10 – June 25
• Cranberries: October 1 – November 1
• Grapes: September 10 – September 20
• Peaches, Nectarines: July 20 – September 1
• Pears: August 10 – August 31
• Plums: July 15 – August 15
• Red Raspberries (Traditional): July 5 – July 21
• Red Raspberries (Fall Bearing): September 1 – September 20
• Strawberries: June 1 – June 10

VEGETABLES:

• Asparagus: May 1 – May 30
• Beets: July 1 – October 31
• Broccoli: July 1 – October 31
• Cabbage: June 10 – October 31
• Cauliflower: October 5 – November 20
• Collards: August 20 – October 31
• Cucumbers: July 5 – August 15
• Eggplant: July 20 – September 30
• Lettuce (Late Spring): May 20 – July 15
• Lettuce (Early Fall): September 15 – November 15
• Lima Beans: July 15 – August 31
• Okra: August 15 – September 15
• Onions: June 25 – July 31
• Peas: June 15 – June 25
• Peppers: July 15 – Oct. 31
• Potatoes: July 20 – September 30
• Pumpkins: October 1 – October 15
• Snap Beans: June 20 – July 20
• Squash: June 25 – September 1
• Spinach: May 5 – June 25
• Sweet Corn: July 5 – August 31
• Tomatoes: July 10 – September 15

OTHER:

• Flowers, everlastings and herbs: July 15 – September 15

For more details on eating “Jersey Fresh,” check out the Department of Agriculture’s website.

Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture

The grant to the Washington Park Association (WPA) will go towards a Permaculture Learning Garden and Apprenticeship Program initiative to be opened in the park, which straddles the Jersey City/Union City border, this year. The garden and the apprenticeship program are the latest in a line of steps taken by the WPA to promote urban agriculture, and it will serve as a demonstration garden that can be replicated in other local parks.

“This vote of confidence from the Dodge Foundation is crucial for Washington Park to continue the sustainability and education work we have begun,” WPA president Mory Thomas says. “We hope it is a signal that other major foundations will recognize and support the efforts and commitment of citizens, community organizations in Jersey City and Hudson County to make our community greener and to move towards a more sustainable New Jersey.”

This program has its origins in last year’s Farms in the City event, which brought a number of community groups together with city officials to brainstorm ways to increase the local availability of affordable, fresh and healthy food.

Ground is slated to be broken on the garden this week, and once the project is finished, it will offer learning opportunities for local residents, as well as teachers and students.

“Related to this initiative, the Jersey City Board of Education passed a resolution in January to partner with the WPA Education Alliance on behalf of developing community sustainability related education opportunities,” WPA education committee chair and chief sustainability advisor Debra Italiano says. “We look forward to hosting a series of creative learning experiences for teachers and students starting this season.”

Additionally, an apprencticeship program will train and graduate apprentices with skill sets around urban agriculture and community garden stewardship.

The Dodge Foundation grant is only the latest monetary award going towards the completion of the garden; money is also coming in from the Hudson County Open Space Fund and AmeriCorps.

Photo: Catherine Hecht

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TODAY

What could be better than ending your week with wine and chocolate? Maybe wine and chocolate for a great cause? A wine tasting and chocolate bar featuring more than 80 wines and chocolates from Ultramarinos in Hoboken and Cibelli Chocolates benefits Hudson County CASA, which works with local foster children. The event, in the Harborside Financial Center’s Atrium, also features a silent auction and a raffle (6 pm).

At Grace Church, Con Vivo Music presents a free composer talk with Lembit Beecher and a performance of Beecher’s “Stories from my Grandmother” by a five-piece ensemble (8 pm). The Loew’s kicks off a weekend of comedy films with a screening tonight of 1941′s The Lady Eve (8 pm).

And on the theater tip, V-Day Jersey City‘s production of The Vagina Monologues, which benefits the Hudson County Rape Crisis Center and Hope House, kicks off a weekend of performances tonight at Lenape (tonight and Saturday at 8 pm; Sunday at 3 pm).

SATURDAY

Although it looks like it will be pretty chilly on Saturday, layer up and head out on a walking tour of Downtown’s Harsimus Cove Historic District led by Pat Guida (noon). At Nuradeen Gallery, portrait artist Johnny Jimenez will paint portraits of guests or caricatures and donate $25 of every portrait to an orphanage in Haiti (noon to 7 pm today, Sunday and next weekend). And the Museum of Russian Art hosts an opening reception for Object/Self/Subject, a new group show that features artworks using radical new technologies (3 pm).

The New Voices Cabaret & Workshop returns to Art House Productions, offering potential performers a chance in the spotlight, or just a fun show for audience members to check out (the day begins at 1 pm for performers and 8 pm if you just want to see the final product).

A late afternoon fashion show at the boutique hotel NYC-JC Luxury Guest Suites benefits the local chapter of Dress for Success, and features Spring 2011 looks by designers Zang Toi and Patrick Smith, a silent auction and more (5 pm).

The comedy weekend at the Loew’s continues with tonight’s back-to-back screening of 1988′s Beetlejuice (6 pm) and 1964′s A Shot in the Dark (8:20 pm).

Tonight’s main event is the huge “Art Strike” fundraiser at Barrow Mansion for the 58 Gallery and the Creative Grove Artist Market, featuring great food, bowling and live music from June Star Mr. Blackman and the Afro Charlie Sheens, The Radio Exiles, Roland Ramos Presents, Ladell McLin and Wyldlife (7:30 pm).

SUNDAY

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church hosts a free concert of Indian music and dance, featuring artists from the Kalavant Center (1 pm). At NJCU, soprano Angela Maria Blasi, pianist Olga Vinokur, and cellist Wendy Warner perform “Music By, For, and About Women” as part of the university’s In RealTime series (3 pm).

The Tribeca Whole Foods, which already provides delivery service to all of Lower Manhattan, added Downtown Jersey City to its delivery options last week. The move was pushed by several employees at the store who live in Jersey City, including marketing team leader Steven Marion.

“Jersey City is our closest neighbor and easiest to get to outside of Manhattan, so we are excited to include Downtown Jersey City,” he tells JCI. “On trash days, I see Whole Foods bags outside my neighbors’ homes, and it only feels natural to help provide an easier way to help them get quality product delivered to their front doors.”

The delivery service runs from 8 am to 8 pm every day, and it comes with a $14.95 delivery fee. All shopping has to be done at the Greenwich Street store, and the delivery window is four hours. The delivery area (see below) is bordered by 12th Street at the north, the Turnpike Extension at the west, Mill Creek at the south and the Hudson River at the east.