Mile Square Journal

Week of April 16 – April 22, 2026

Hoboken this week: five stories worth your time, a packed weekend of author talks and live music, and an independent bookstore at the center of it all.

The News

Hoboken is the outlier: city leaves Airbnb largely unregulated as World Cup approaches

While Kearny, Union City, Secaucus and others are imposing bans and limits, Hoboken is welcoming fans. Councilman Joe Quintero says he wants rules on the books before June — but fears overly strict regulations will just create a black market for short-term rentals.

Read the full story → CBS New York

Fifty blocks of Hoboken are about to be repaved

The city is rolling out a two-mile repaving effort running through June, in partnership with PSE&G and North Hudson Sewerage Authority. Expect detours, street closures, and upgraded crosswalks. Plan your commute and your parking accordingly.

Read the full story → City of Hoboken

Hoboken University Medical Center keeps its full ER running under new ownership

The 34-bay emergency department, OB-GYN ER, and all inpatient services remain open around the clock following the Hudson Regional Health takeover. The hospital also keeps its Level II special care nursery and primary stroke center status.

Read the full story → Hudson Reporter

Mayor Jabbour restarts Vision Zero task force, opens community survey

The new mayor is reviving the traffic safety plan and advancing accessibility priorities for residents with disabilities. A community survey is open now — a chance to weigh in on what gets prioritized next.

Read the full story → City of Hoboken

Olivia Rodrigo confirms Pier C as the locket-video location

Fans who spent days scrubbing her cryptic Instagram clip frame-by-frame were right: Hoboken's Pier C is the spot. Expect waterfront foot traffic this week as the pilgrimages begin.

Read the full story → Daily Voice

The Week Ahead

Thursday through Wednesday. Literary Weekend, live rock, a marathon, and the season's first outdoor market.

Thursday, April 16 · 7:00 PM · Arts

The Mountaintop — opening night

Mile Square Theatre, 1400 Clinton St. Katori Hall's Olivier-winning reimagining of Dr. King's final night. Runs Thursdays–Sundays through May 3.

Tickets & schedule

Friday, April 17 · 7:00 PM · Arts

Hoboken Literary Weekend opens with Simon Morrison

Little City Books, 100 Bloomfield St. The Princeton music historian discusses his thousand-year history of Moscow with Keith Gessen.

Tickets

Saturday, April 18 · 9:00 AM · Community

Miles For Second Chances community walk/run

Pier A Park. A Village community walk/run along the waterfront — a strong start to the weekend.

Event details

Saturday, April 18 · 1:00 PM · Arts

Andrew McCarthy: Who Needs Friends?

Little City Books. The actor (Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo's Fire) turned travel writer, in conversation.

Tickets

Saturday, April 18 · 2:00 PM · Food & Drink

Come Eat: Melissa Ben-Ishay of Baked by Melissa

Mile Square Theatre. The founder of Baked by Melissa in conversation, with cupcakes on hand.

Tickets

Saturday, April 18 · 4:00 PM · Arts

Alia Hanna Habib: Take It From Me, with Rachel Syme

Little City Books. The Gernert Company literary agent on building a nonfiction writing career from scratch, with The New Yorker's Rachel Syme.

Tickets

Saturday, April 18 · 6:00 PM · Arts

Colm Tóibín: The News from Dublin

Little City Books. The author of Brooklyn and Long Island on his new collection of short stories. $29 ticket includes a signed copy.

Tickets

Saturday, April 18 · 6:00–9:00 PM · Market

Project Studios Night Market & Open House

Neumann Leathers Building. Over 30 artists selling pottery and artwork, studio walk-throughs, and exhibitions in the Pro Clay Studio and PROTOps Gallery. Part of Garden State Art Weekend.

Details

Saturday, April 18 · 7:30 PM · Music

Tommy Stinson (The Replacements) with Karla Rose

503 Social Club, 503 3rd St. The Replacements bassist in a 45-seat room. Capacity is tiny — don't wait.

Tickets

Saturday, April 18 · 8:00 PM · Nightlife

Little City Laughing with Leah Williams

Little City Books. Five comedians, one bookstore, one night. $20.

Tickets

Sunday, April 19 · 7:00 AM · Sports

Jersey City Marathon

Newport, Downtown JC. Corrals release at 7 AM. Road closures in JC from 6 AM to 3 PM — worth knowing even if you're staying in Hoboken.

Race info

Sunday, April 19 · 2:00 PM · Community

Queer Voices, Queer History

Little City Books. A conversation about sharing queer stories across generations.

Tickets

Sunday, April 19 · 4:00 PM · Music

Jesse Malin with James Mastro

Little City Books. NYC rock singer-songwriter Jesse Malin on his memoir Almost Grown, interviewed by Guitar Bar owner James Mastro.

Tickets

Monday, April 20 · 3:00–7:00 PM · Market

HDSID Spring Farmers' Market — opening day

Grove Street PATH Plaza, Downtown Jersey City. Season kickoff with 30+ vendors. Then every Monday and Thursday through December.

Details

Business Spotlight

Little City Books

Independent Bookstore · 100 Bloomfield Street

Hoboken's independent bookshop is the engine behind this weekend's Literary Weekend — ten author events in three days, most of them inside a 45-seat room. Co-owners Kate Jacobs and Donna Garban, now a decade in, still hand-curate nearly everything that happens there. The store punches at a weight that bookshops three times its size rarely touch.

Visit Little City Books →

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