High Court Rejects JCRA Eminent Domain Appeal: The state Supreme Court has refused to hear the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency’s appeal of an appellate court decision that affirmed an $18.6 million award to the owners of a 3.4-acre Jersey Avenue site that was seized by Jersey City via eminent domain.

Republican Challengers in the 31st: Hudson County, and especially Jersey City, is practically hallowed ground for Democrats, and there’s no reason to think November’s election will change the party’s domination in the 31st District. But that’s not stopping Republicans from mounting a fierce challenge against the three incumbents.

New Downtown Retail: Mxyplyzyk has proved to be a survivor in a less-than-ideal retail climate: the home furnishings shop has occupied the same space in New York’s West Village for nearly a decade. Last week, Kevin Brynan, who owns the store with his partner, Bill Cleary, opened a second one in Jersey City.

Newport Tower Sale Set Record: Brookfield Office Properties Inc.’s 2006 sale of Jersey City’s Newport Tower to Multi-Employer Property Trust is the highest price on record for a single office building in New Jersey at $377.5 million, Brookfield said.

Crime Blotter: A Jersey City woman says she was carjacked at gunpoint by a man in a Mercedes that rear-ended her BMW; a Newark man was reportedly knocked out cold and dragged down a flight of stairs as he left the home of a female friend on Bidwell Avenue in Greenville.

Today’s Best Bets:

Michael Anthony’s is hosting a comedy fundraiser this evening to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Hudson County (8 pm, $20); Beth Achenbach’s photography exhibit Life Signs opens tonight at Made With Love (7:30 pm); all day long, the Iron Monkey is hosting a “Meet the Brewer” event with the New Jersey Beer Company, with $1 for every draft to be donated to the restaurant’s upcoming annual Thanksgiving Dinner feast.

In Statewide News:

Christie Announces New Economic Plan: Gov. Christie Wednesday announced the creation of a “State Strategic Job Growth Plan,” an effort he describes as an ambitious, flexible guide for the future of New Jersey’s economic development. But critics worry that the plan will green-light development in environmentally sensitive areas.

State Applies for Race to the Top Grant: Under a plan being proposed to the federal government, New Jersey would evaluate and grade every registered early childhood center and preschool serving low-income students in the state. The proposal is part of the Christie administration’s application, announced yesterday, for up to $60 million in federal funding under the federal Race to the Top — Early Learning Challenge.

Administration Proposes Smart Growth Plan Revisions: The Christie administration is proposing a radical overhaul of the aging State Development and Redevelopment Plan, a blueprint state officials devoted years trying to achieve, mostly unsuccessfully.

Christie Appearances Raise “Unprecedented” Campaign Cash: Chris Christie’s fund-raising swing through western states last month brought in at least $530,000 as former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft and a Stifel Financial Corp. co-chairman helped the New Jersey governor shatter the out-of-state fundraising record.

Campaign Finance Update: As campaign fundraisers enter the home stretch before the November 8 election, the Republican state committee has outearned the Democratic state organization, but Democratic candidates have a two to one advantage over Republican candidates.

The two-level, 20,000 square foot store, which will be in the south wing of the mall, will open “just in time for the holiday season,” according to a press release sent out today. The Jersey City location will be the fashion retailer’s 15th store in New Jersey, and its first in Hudson County.

“The addition of H&M to our mall will further enhance the shopper experience at Newport Centre,” Newport’s director of marketing and business development Jill Daniel says in a statement. “The opening of the new store will nicely complement the entire center.”

DEEN, the clothing and accessories boutique currently located on the ground floor of the Leo Cooke Warehouse building in the Powerhouse Arts District, is moving a few blocks away to the ground floor of Trump Plaza. Saturday, May 14, is the shop’s last day in its 140 Bay Street location, and it is celebrating by offering a free gift with all purchases over $40, a gift card giveaway to use in the new location, and sangria. The shop is open from 11 am to 6 pm on Saturday; the new location in Trump Plaza (at 88 Morgan Street) will be open at the end of May.

Elsewhere, the children’s consignment and specialty boutique Duck Duck Goose is closing its doors forever on Saturday, May 14. The store, located at 16 Erie Street in Downtown Jersey City, has been open for five years; on its final day in business it is offering 75 percent discounts.

- New Sneaker Store on Central: Suraj Kaufman, who previously ran the sneaker boutique, Sneaker Room on Brunswick Street, will open a new store called Takeover on Central Avenue tomorrow.

- Doc Arrested: A physician who lives in Matawan and formerly had an office in Jersey City was arrested Thursday on charges that he wrote fraudulent prescriptions for narcotics, including Percocet and Xanax, for Medicaid recipients in return for large sums of cash. The charge is the result of an ongoing investigation by the state Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and the Jersey City Police Department’s Special Investigation Unit, and the investigation stemmed from those agencies’ earlier Operation MedScam investigation.

- Ex-Bond Trader Pleads Guilty: A former bond trader who used the clearing services of Jersey City-based Pershing LLC has pleaded guilty to manipulated the prices of collateralized mortgage obligations to conceal trading losses.

- Passport Day: Hudson County Clerk Barbara A. Netchert will hold “Passport Day in the USA” tomorrow from 10 am to 3 pm.

In Statewide News:

- Teacher Evaluation: Gov. Christie is calling for public school teachers to be evaluated each year by colleagues in their districts. MORE from NJ Spotlight and the Record.

- Energy Efficiency: After customers lined up to participate in a recent energy efficiency program, PSE&G is seeking approval to roll out a new phase of an economic stimulus project to help towns, hospitals and multifamily housing rental units cut their energy use.

- Roads in Poor Condition: A new Transportation Department report finds half of the state’s highways are deficient.

- Shared Sacrifice? Gov. Christie is the fourth highest paid governor in the nation, according to a new report by Stateline.

- Rx Monitoring: New Jersey is moving closer toward launching a program to monitor prescriptions for commonly abused controlled drugs, such as painkillers and steroids.

“The shop started out as an online business specializing in refurbished vintage items — giving new life to something old — and we’re happy to continue our focus on one-of-a-kind merchandise through this new endeavor,” Scalia says of the collection.

The Rose Cottage collection features stripped and revamped vintage garments that have been given new life with modern cuts and innovative finishings. It was created in partnership with designer Caitlin Makary (who has designed for Nautica and Nicole Miller, among other companies), branding developer Jade Kuei and photographer Melanie McLean.

Scalia says Rose Cottage aims to be handmade clothing that is “less about DIY and more polished,” adding that it “combines a distinct tribal feel with slight menswear influences.” (You don’t take her word for it, you can also browse the collection here.) It will be exclusively sold in-store at Kanibal Home beginning Saturday, April 9, the same day the line gets its formal launch with a bash at Parlay Studios.

The Saturday event should be a blow-out, with food from Satis Bistro, booze, live music by Argon 40, Shayfer James, Wyldlife and The Rakehells, and even a Kanibal Home pop-up shop featuring goods from Hunter New York, Finch, Mumbot, Mathmatiks, Rubella Jewelry and others. Best of all, it’s free (as is the unofficial after-party at Lucky 7 Tavern).

THE DETAILS

Rose Cottage by Kanibal Home Party; Saturday, April 9 at 7 pm; Parlay Studios, 161 2nd St.

Antheia, which offers floral arrangements for everyday living as well as special occasions like weddings and events, is now located at 23 McWilliams Place, and it is the latest retail tenant to open in Eric and Paul Silverman’s Hamilton Square condominium development.

“We hope to be a big part of everyone’s daily routine,” Antheia owner Angie Schwartz says in a statement. “The best part of our business has always been getting to know and see our friends and neighbors and educate our customers about the beauty of flowers for the home, occasions, or events. Hamilton Square offers us a great opportunity to truly become a part of the community.”

The grand re-opening is Saturday, April 9 from 4 to 6 pm, and will feature light refreshments, baked goods, giveaways and live music from Steele Hillier and Steve Teti.

Fifteen months ago, he closed down Iris Records, which had been selling used records on Brunswick Street for 13 years, citing the off-the-beaten-path location and the public’s changing music-buying habits as reasons. But less than a year after that, Gritzan announced that Iris would re-open its retail location for three days a week, and now, building on the store’s renewed success, Iris is adding another day to its schedule, opening on Sundays from noon to 6 pm.

The Sunday hours aren’t just another day for music (and book) lovers to shop, but a milestone for the store.

“This is the first time in [the store's] history that it will be open four out of a possible seven days a week,” Gritzan notes.

Iris Records, located at 114 Brunswick Street, is open Thursdays and Fridays from 3 to 8 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 6 pm.

The store, which is owned by Jersey City’s Iesha Boyd and Hoboken’s Antonia Rosado, specializes in caps and hats for men, women and children and features brands like New Era, 59/Fifty, Kangol and Mitchell & Ness.

“After working for Verizon as customer service reps for so many years, we decided to open a business that would serve our community in a positive way,” Boyd says.

Cap Central, located at 150 Monticello Avenue, is a welcome addition to the avenue, according to Monticello Avenue Main Street Program director Michele Massey.

“It is always gratifying to see a new business, which is needed, open in our community,” she says. “It is not everyday you see women open a business that is traditionally owned and operated by men. Iesha and Antonia are defying odds and breaking down walls as small business partners and entrepreneurs.”

The ribbon-cutting ceremony is slated for Tuesday at 1 pm; Mayor Jerramiah Healy and Ward F councilwoman Viola Richardson are slated to attend.

The new arrivals are a 2,400-square-foot Vans store, a 1,200-square-foot Traffic store and a Johnny Rockets restaurant. All three should be open sometime between mid-March and mid-April. But the announcement, via Facebook, of a new H&M location in the mall was “premature,” according to a Newport Centre public relations representative.

The post, which said the popular fashion retailer would open a big location in the Jersey City mall this fall, has since been removed, leaving some web users wondering what’s going on.

“[Is it] true that an H&M will be opening in Newport?” one Facebook user asked on the Newport Centre page Tuesday night. So far no one has responded to her, but a Newport Centre spokesperson did respond to JCI when we asked the same question.

“That announcement was premature and was posted in error on Facebook, hence it being removed,” Kevin Ryan says in an email. “As soon as we have anything definitive to report on this will let you know. Sorry about any confusion this might have caused.”

Owner Gynine Visconti announced the news via email today:

It is with great sadness that I inform you all that The Stockinette will be closing it’s doors after almost three years. As my lease is expiring in July, I made the difficult decision to not renew. Over the years I had the pleasure of meeting talented musicians, politicians, artists, poets, writers, other business owners, children, men and women knitters that can knit the socks off of you (or maybe onto you!).

Visconti says the cafe will immediately begin cutting back hours in the months before the total closure; the cafe will now be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays; and open from 10 am to 7 pm on Wednesdays, Thursday and Fridays; and 11 am to 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

“As sad as this news is, I’m hoping that we can use the time left to enjoy this neighborhood store,” she writes. “We will still continue Comedy Night on the 2nd Friday of the month, so if you haven’t been to one, come out and try it. If you ever wanted to learn how to knit, book an appointment today.”

Illustration: Jade Kuei